Freshmen pace XC at Olivet Comet Opener

Alexander Hammond and Cassandra Gallagher recorded team-bests on Friday.

Photo courtesy of Leilani Casteele

OLIVET, Mich. – A young Albion College cross country lineup made their season debut at the Olivet Comet Opener on Friday afternoon. In the 5K race, no team scores were kept, but plenty of Britons had great races.

On the women's side, freshman Cassandra Gallagher finished 14th overall, leading the team with a race of 20:06.0. Finishing second for the Brits was Fatima Cruz, clocking in at 20:19.7, good for 17th. Senior Helena Abbott was the final Albion runner finishing inside the top 25, taking 23rd with a run of 20:46.0.

Next for the Britons was Serena Arnold (21:50.1) and Zariah Ozuzu (21:55.1). Taylor Adams ran a 22:20.0, while fellow freshman Kyra Shouldice clocked in at 23:32.1. Sophomore Melanie Symons turned in a time of 23:54.0.

Rounding out the women's team was Veronica Paniccia (24:22.2) and Megan Chipman (24:58.8).

For the men, it was also a freshman that led the way for Albion. With a time of 16:44.9, Alexander Hammond placed 24th overall. Classmate Logan Vinig had a solid time of 17:03.8 to take 33rd place.

Josiah Graddick ran a 17:46.0 and Ruark Wicka finished with a time of 17:50.6. Connor Clark (18:03.1) and Israel Aquino (18:04.1) were the next two finishers for Albion, as Dalton Weber logged an 18:24.8.

Senior Houston Bowen Jr. finished with a time of 18:41.5. Freshman Robert Belf III and Juan Lopez finished within milliseconds of each other, running 20:05.3 and 20:05.6 respectively. Dallas Wilson (20:13.7) and Chris Hernandez (23:44.2) rounded out the squads.

Both teams will head to Illinois next Saturday for the Spartan Classic, held by Aurora University.

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Players Mentioned

Israel Aquino: Sophomore

Houston Bowen Jr.: Senior

Connor Clark: Sophomore

Josiah Graddick: Sophomore

Chris Hernandez: Junior

Juan Lopez: Senior

Ruark Wicka: Junior

Dallas Wilson: Junior

Robert Belf: Freshman

Alex Hammond: Freshman

Dalton Weber: Freshman

Helena Abbott: Senior

Players Mentioned

Israel Aquino
: Sophomore

Houston Bowen Jr.
: Senior

Connor Clark
: Sophomore

Josiah Graddick
: Sophomore

Chris Hernandez
: Junior

Juan Lopez
: Senior

Ruark Wicka
: Junior

Dallas Wilson
: Junior

Robert Belf
: Freshman

Alex Hammond
: Freshman

Dalton Weber
: Freshman

Helena Abbott
: Senior