St. Peter, Minn. – Both current and alumni Gustavus cross country runners swept the top 15 spots in the women’s cross country alumni meet held on campus in Linnaeus Arboretumn Saturday morning. Alumni Nichole Porath `05 won the event in a time of 18:23.7.
Created for more than just competition, the alumni meet provides a chance for Gusties present and former the opportunity to come together. “We are very fortunate to have alumni come back,” stated head coach Dale Bahr. “Looking at the success that our alumni have after leaving here, it really helps tell us we are teaching them good things through the program.”
This year’s meet brought back ten alumni, with three runners placing in the top five. Joining Porath was Laura Edlund `08 finishing second in 19:42.0, and Brooke Beskau `12 crossing the line fourth with a time of 20:02.0. Leading the current Gusties was sophomore Caitlin Fermoyle (Mendota Heights, Minn.), taking third with a time of 19:15.2. Rounding out the top five was Rebecca Hare (Jr., Albany, Minn.) with a fifth place finish in 20:08.0.
Seniors Kate Eggers (Montevideo, Minn.) and Beth Hauer (Little Falls, Minn.), along with first-year Marit Sonnesyn (Plymouth, Minn.) and junior Danielle Wittenberg (Winona, Minn.) also finished in the top ten for Gustavus. Vanessa Jones `10 finished eighth to complete the top ten.
“It’s really exciting to get racing again,” remarked Beth Hauer. “It’s fun to see the alumni back here again, and it’s nice to have Bethany here as well. It’s good to have a smaller race on our campus to get the bugs out. It was really fun.”
The Gustie women will compete again next weekend when they will travel to Collegeville, Minn. to take part in the Saint John’s Invitational next Saturday morning.