by Alan Babbitt
Freshman Laura Taylor led a joyful pack of Hope College women's cross country runners on Wednesday at a meet nearly two years in the making.
The Flying Dutch topped the eight-team field at the Olivet College Comet Open by recording seven of the fastest 12 times at the non-scoring meet.
It was Hope's first collegiate competition in 22 months. The Flying Dutch's last event was the NCAA Division III Championships on November 23, 2019.
"It was exciting," head coach Mark Northuis said. "We had a couple of the upperclassmen that came to primarily work with the freshmen and help give them their first college experience. They got their feet wet. They know what running in college is about.
"There's nothing like a meet to bring everyone together. We couldn't have asked for a better experience."
Photo of Laura Taylor by Lynne Powe
Taylor (Yorkville, Illinois / Yorkville HS), pictured, clocked a third-place, 5K time of 19 minutes, 51 seconds at Broadway Acres Golf Course in Charlotte.
Junior Sam Schermerhorn (Traverse City, Michigan / T.C. West HS) placed seventh out of 58 runners in 20:03.
Freshman Maddy Struck (Grayslake, Illinois / Central) finished one second behind Schermerhorn in eighth.
Freshman Kennedy Kuhlman (Grand Blanc, Michigan / Grand Blanc) came in ninth at 20:05.
Freshman Janie DeGroot (Northville, Michigan / Northville) crossed the finish line two seconds after Kuhlman in 10th.
Sophomore Jessie Schamanek (Rochester, Michigan / Stoney Creek) went 20:14 for 11th place.
Sophomore Libby Gorman (Traverse City, Michigan / St. Francis) was 12th at 20:23.
Hope's next week is Friday, September 17 at Michigan State University.
