Cross Country Teams Open Season At Ray Helsing Bulldog Invite

The Northwood University cross country teams opened their 2013 season by competing at the Ray Helsing Bulldog Invite Saturday morning (September 7).

No team scoring was taken at the event, which was held at the Katke Golf club on the campus of Ferris State University.  Athletes from Northwood, Ferris State, Kirtland CC, Oakland CC, Mott CC, Kuyper and Alpena CC took part in the competition.

On the women's side, Northwood had three of the top seven finishers in the event.  Leading the way for the Timberwolves was senior Danielle Miller (Clinton Twp., Mich./Fraser), who placed second overall with a time of 19:00.38 on the 5K course.  Kelsey Burgess (Byron Center, Mich./Grand Rapids South Christian) clocked a 19:27.98 to finish third overall.  Brittany Robichaud (Monroe, Mich.) was seventh overall at 20:01.21.  A total of 39 competitors took part in the women's race.

Like their counterparts on the women's team, the Northwood men had three of the top seven finishers overall.  Sophomore Enock Rono (Eldoret, Kenya) led the way for the Timberwolves by placing second overall at 26:39.41.  Fellow sophomore Silas Dekalita (Clio, Mich.) was third overall at 26:52.25, while junior Michael Todd (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) clocked a 27:35.19 to place seventh.  A total of 56 runners competed in the men's race.

Northwood returns to action next Friday (September 13) at the Spartan Invite in East Lansing.