The Hope College women's cross country team delivered a winning team effort at the Adrian College Heritage Classic on Saturday, taking first place in the 11-team, 6,000-meter race.
Three runners in the Top 10 set the tone for the Flying Dutch, who totaled 38 points and finished 24 points ahead of runner-up Saint Mary's College.
Freshman Ruth Miller's anchored the podium finish in third place. Miller (Indianapolis, Indiana / Herron) ran a time of 23:20.30.
Junior Erin Stuk (Pinckney, Michigan / Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard) trailed right behind in fourth at 23:27.20, while senior Elise Bodary (New Boston, Michigan / Father Gabriel Richard) grabbed eighth place in 23:54.70 to put three Hope runners in the Top 10.
Freshman Abigayle Velt (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City West) added an 11th-place effort in 24:03.80, and freshman Emily Agnew (DeWitt, Michigan / DeWitt) rounded out the scoring lineup in 15th with a mark of 24:06.70.
Junior Lily Sackrider (St. Johns, Michigan / St. Johns) and freshman Cianah Budnik-Ramos (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) provided crucial depth to cement the victory. Sackider finished 20th at 24:11.90. Budnik-Ramos was 22nd at 24:15.00.
Hope hits the course again on Saturday, Oct. 3, in Northfield, Minnesota as the the Flying Dutch compete in the Carleton College's Running of the Cows at the Bill Huyck Championship Course, site of the upcoming NCAA Division III Championships.
