Hope College's Erin Herrmann set a Bill Vanderbilt cross country meet record in style on Saturday, beating the old mark by nearly minute for the nationally ranked Flying Dutch.
The senior from Wheaton, Illinois (Wheaton-Warrenville South HS) clocked a winning time of 17 minutes, 39 seconds at Ridge Point Community Church in the Hope's annual season opener.
Herrmann, a returning All-American, surpassed the previous mark of 18:32 held by Sheri McCormick while leading the Flying Dutch to a winning team score of 15 points. Muskegon Community College was runner-up with 50 points.
Hope entered the meet ranked 13th in the preseason United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association cross country rankings. The Flying Dutch also topped the Great Lakes Regional preseason poll.
Senior Jessica Gaines of Sterling Heights, Michigan (Utica Academy for International Studies) took second for Hope with a run of 18:49.9.
Junior Rachael Webb of Grandville, Michigan (Grandville) placed third at 19:12.4.
Junior Alissa Frazee of Watervliet, Michigan (Home School) came in fourth at 19:25.6.
Sophomore Avery Lowe of North Muskegon, Michigan (North Muskegon) rounded out the Flying Dutch's score with a fifth-place run of 19:27.9.
Click here for more on the Vanderbilt Invitational.
Hope returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Ferris State Invitational.
