The 12th-ranked Hope College men's cross country team turned in a pair of impressive third-place finishes at the Blugold Invitational hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Friday, showcasing depth, consistency, and competitive fire across both heats of the 8,000-meter race.
In the varsity race, Hope surged to a team score of 60 points to claim third place in a highly competitive, 36-team field.
Sophomore Logan Begeman (Portage, Michigan / Portage Central HS) led the way with an 11th-place finish in 25:09.7, followed by senior Carston Cole (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) in 18th at 25:32.4.
Sophomore Elias Kretchmar (Granville, Ohio / Granville) and freshman Aiden Moore (Battle Creek, Michigan / Lakeview) packed tightly in 23rd and 25th, clocking 25:44.9 and 25:48.5 respectively.
Senior Jonathan Harlow (Holland, Michigan / Home School) sealed the scoring five with a 53rd-place finish in 26:08.4.
Strong supporting efforts came from senior Lucas Guidone (Chicago, Illinois / Taft) in 61st at 26:18.2, sophomore Noah Norris (Ann Arbor, Michigan / Washtenaw Academy) in 67th at 26:22.7, junior Nile Devers (Gobles, Michigan / Gobles) in 75th at 26:26.3), sophomore Max Lewis (Barrington, Illinois / Barrington) (101st in 26:49.2), sophomore Cooper Jacobsen (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Forest Hills Eastern) in 106th at 26:52.0), and freshman Elijah Forbord (Howell, Michigan / Brighton) in 114th at 26:58.4.
Earlier in the day, Hope's open meet squad also secured a third-place team finish with 119 points.
Senior Chad Perrine (Jackson, Michigan / Jackson) led the group with a 7th-place finish in 27:03.9, followed closely by sophomore Joe Waalkes (Grand Rapid, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) in 10th at 27:10.3.
Junior Tim Peterson (Portage, Michigan / Portage Northern) placed 16th in 27:21.2, while freshman William Whitmore (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) and junior Carter Dean (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City West) rounded out the scoring five in 23rd and 32nd with times of 27:35.3 and 27:43.7.
Senior Erickson Kunzler (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Catholic Central) took 39th at 28:01.5 and was followed by freshman Eli Johansen (St. Joseph, Michigan / St. Joseph) in 42nd at 28:04.7, and junior Shane Pitcher (Saline, Michigan / Saline) in 71st at 28:41.7.
Hope takes to the course again on Saturday, Oct. 4 in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Knight Invite hosted by Calvin University.
