Erin Herrmann clocked the top time among NCAA Division III women's cross country runners in a Greater Louisville Classic Gold Division field full of national powerhouses on Saturday.
The junior from Wheaton, Illinois (Wheaton-Warrenville HS), finished her 6K run in 115th place out of 260 runners with a time of 18 minutes, 14.83 seconds.
Senior Julia Stock of Norton Shores, Michigan (Grand Haven HS), posted Division III's second-fastest time by running 18:27.30 for 144th place.
The University of Michigan won the meet that saw eight Division I teams top the team standings. Hope finished 27th.
Hope coach Mark Northuis said his team was the top Division III school at the meet comparing all three divisions.
"The women's Gold race was stacked with D-I and D-II powerhouses," Northuis said. "It was a great experience builder for our women to race against some of the best female collegiate runners in the USA."
Freshman Sarah Neumar of Ann Arbor, Michigan (Huron HS), took 189th at 18:53.23.
Freshman Avery Lowe of North Muskegon, Michigan (North Muskegon HS), clocked a 202nd place time of 19:02.00.
Junior Emily Joosse of Chillicothe, Ohio (Zane Trace HS), rounded out Hope's scoring in 215th place at 19:09.48.
The Flying Dutch also received runs from freshman Emily Hamilton of Naperville, Illinois (Naperville North HS), of 19:35.45 for 240th place and from sophomore Rachael Webb of Grandville, Michigan (Grandville HS), of 19:36.45 for 241st place.
Hope also had runners in the Blue Division and finished 27th.
"It was a very strong pack for the second women's team that we entered," Northuis said. "They race very good D-II and NAIA teams. Several of these ladies ran season-best times and had a 19 second gap for one through five runners."
Sophomore Alexis Guttilla of St. Charles, Illinois (Westminster Christian HS), topped the Flying Dutch in 133rd at 19:45.82.
Senior Michelle Kerr of Dearborn, Michigan (Divine Child HS), took 140th at 19:54.41.
Sophomore Ashley Warner of Spring Lake, Michigan (Spring Lake HS), placed 158th at 20:00.65.
Freshman Allison Utting of Grandville, Michigan (Grandville HS), came in 159th at 20:00.94.
Freshman Abby Couwenhoven of Mokena, Illinois (Lincoln-Way East HS) finished 165th at 20:04.98.
Junior Jessica Gaines of Sterling Heights, Michigan (Utica Academy HS), placed 185th at 20:23.84.
Senior Claire Cooper of Williamston, Michigan (Williamston HS), was 199th at 20:33.82.
Hope returns to action on Friday, Oct. 9, at the Lansing Community College Invitational.
