XC Places Top 3 during Wet Opening Meet
Emily Ryder
The Manchester University cross country team recently competed at an annual home event known as Hokum Karem. During this meet, each runner has a partner, and takes turns running three miles for the women and four miles for the men. This event was held on Aug. 25, the First Years’ Move-in Day. Through the steady rain and the hustle of moving in, the teams were not fazed by the unforgiving conditions provided and earned top placements.
Coach Geoff Lambert appreciates how the cross country team is doing. “The team has been on campus for a few weeks now and I am happy with the progress that we are making,” he said. “We are working hard every day to become the best team that we can be while trying to hold everyone to a standard of excellence.” Th is standard of excellence was seen as both the men’s and women’s teams achieved a pair of top-three team finishes.
Although the runners experienced rain delays during this meet, runners like Dinah Gilbert, a first year on the team, were not discouraged. “Even though we were running through water almost the entire time, I really enjoyed it,” Gilbert said. Perhaps the biggest challenge she faced was juggling moving into her First-Year Residence Hall and competing in her first cross country meet on the same day.
Gilbert explained how she feels the team is doing so far. “I think the team is doing pretty good, though we can all definitely improve,” she said. “I am just a first-year, so I’m still learning everyone’s potential, but I like the coaches’ workout and racing plans. He has us in groups for whatever he thinks is best for the team, and I really like that.
“I feel a lot more like a team here at Manchester than I did in high school,” she continued. “The girls are all positive about everything and we work together to get things done.”
While the teams achieved a high ranking in the first meet, Lambert highlighted the plans for the future and their goal to strive toward a standard of excellence. “The team right now is focused on the things that we can control,” he said. “We are working to get better every day and fulfill our potential as a team.”
The next meet will take place on Saturday, Sept. 15, at Blue River Cross Country Course in Shelbyville, Ind. The Indiana Intercollegiate Championships, which was previously scheduled, is cancelled.