The 43rd Annual Ray Helsing Invitational started off the 2017 season for Ferris State cross country in winning fashion on Sept. 9 in Big Rapids at Katke Golf Course.
The Bulldog men and women both came away from the event as big winners. The women led their division with 15 points while the men beat out their competition with a score of 26.
The women dominated, gaining eight of the top ten spots in victory over Lake Superior State, who left with 52 points and Mott Community College, who ended the day with 77 points. Sophomore Katie Etelamaki led the way for Ferris State with a time of 18:50.6, taking second place. She was followed directly behind by senior Natalie Perry and freshman Sydney Dawes, taking third and fourth respectively.
The Bulldog men were paced by senior Trevor Holowaty who took first overall with a time of 25:26.4. With some impressive performances last year, Holowaty is sure to be big for the Dawgs this season. Junior Damien Halverson took third place for the Bulldogs with a time of 27:04.9.
Five of the top men’s placers were Bulldogs, giving Ferris the win on the day, followed up by fellow GLIAC opponent Lake Superior State in second with 37 points, Mott Community College in third with 89 points and Alpena Community College in fourth with 93 points.
Last year’s Bulldog men and women runners churned out some great results in the 8K Ray Helsing Invite with the men placing first overall and the women taking second in their meet.
The 2016 Dawgs were paced by Logan Hammer in first place and Kyle Richardson in third, two Bulldog graduates that will certainly be missed by their teammates in 2017.
The Dawgs certainly aren’t out of the picture after graduating two of their top runners. As a junior, Holowaty was runner-up to Hammer in second place. Fourth place was also marked with pawprints as 2017 senior Casey Neal rounded out the fourth place spot to seal the win for the Bulldogs.
With some impressive young faces on the women’s squad and some dependable returning legs on the men’s squad, the Dawgs are on par to compete this year, just as they showed at Katke Golf Course.
The men and women of Ferris cross country will lace up their running shoes next on Friday, Sept. 15, in East Lansing for the Michigan State Spartan Invitational.