Packers Compete at Calvin

9/26/2024

Fremont runners at Calvin University with their former track teammate and current Calvin student athlete Victoria Ekkel

Story and photos by Michael Paige

Fremont cross country runners turned in some great performances at the Calvin University Cougar Falcon Invitational on September 21st. The weather was warm and the newly mapped out course was a little wet, but still pretty flat course that ran fast and the Fremont runners took advantage and had many season and personal records.

The Fremont boys started out the day with a 4th place finish with 122 points. Seniors Carter Sherman and Cole Lowery both earned medals. Carter placed 5th with a season best time of 16:20 and Cole placed 20th at 17:07, his personal best. According to Coach Cliff Somers, “Carter ran a really smart race putting himself in the lead pack early, and then moved up in the second half of the race.” Blake Taylor (27th – 17:27), Issac Romero (31st – 17:33) and Chase Lowery (45th – 18:09) also placed in the top 50 to round out Fremont’s top five. Sophomore Mossen Green placed 49th with a PR time of 18:27 and senior Brandon Rasmussen, in his first big meet as a member of the varsity team, ran a personal record time of 19:58.

Fremont had two runners in the boy’s freshman race, and both performed very well with big personal records. Max Taylor ran a 19:33, good for 20th, earning a medal and a spot on the varsity squad for the next race. Jacob Christoffersen placed 38th at 21:04, a 20 sec. PR over his previous best.

On the girl’s side, the Packers placed 5th with 148 points, again setting many personal and season bests. Junior Linnea Paige ran a season best 19:58 and finished 8th to earn a medal. Per Coach Somers, “Rachel Maddox (31st – 22:01), Kira Manchip (32nd – 22:11) and Joelle Patten (36th – 22:24) all finished in the top 40 to give us a decent scoring punch.” Ava Krohn was also in the top 5 in 51st place with a time of 23:58. Maddox, Manchip and Krohn all ran personal bests and Patten had her season best. Jailyn Saum ran a PR of 24:31 and Rocquel Richards had her best time of the season at 25:12 rounding out the varsity runners.

Fremont had three girls, Riley Chase, Alayna Bukala and Madison Dunbar, run personal best times in the junior varsity race. Chase ran a time of 26:01, good for 24th and a medal. Bukala placed 54th at 29:12 and Dunbar 65th at 30:15.

Fremont runs again on Oct. 1 at Ludington.