By Vanessa Hewitt
Last year, Grand Rapids Community College’s women’s cross country team finished 6th in the MCCAA Northern conference. This year, head coach Sharon Becker expects the team to place higher. The team is off to a good start after winning their first meet, Friday, Aug. 30 against 12 other teams.
“I am looking forward to a very fun season with this great group of student-athletes,” Becker stated in a text to The Collegiate.
After having a smaller squad last season, Becker is thankful to have a full team this year. Freshman newcomers Olivia Lemke, of Traverse City; Gloria Gaston, of Grand Rapids; Estelle Rockhold, of Saranac; and Chloe Rooks, of Holland, are expected to stand out this season alongside returning sophmores Elicia Land, Anna Tubbergen, Mariana Zaragoza and Emily Adamy.
Land placed fourth at the most recent meet with a time of 20:31. In addition, sophomore Tubbergen placed fifth, freshman Gaston seventh and Lemke eighth.
After a strong start to the season, the team is set to race again at Gainey athletic complex on Friday, Sept. 13.
