Time for the annual Lucian Rosa Invitational on UW Parkside's acclaimed Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course. The scenic campus and track can be found in Somers, Wis.; the race will begin at 11:00 am on Saturday Oct. 11th.
This is the second year in a row the Blue Angels participated in the race, last year finishing 20th of 25 teams. The featured six kilometer race tests even the most experienced runners, in fact the course has played host to national races for multiple levels including NCAA.
If anything, this race plays into the styles of the Blue Angels runners this season. The motto for them seems to be, "when the going gets tough, we cut our times." Not the same ring, but the evidence is plain to see. Leading by example, literally, Hayley Hove (So./Golden Valley, Minn.) has cut off over 20 seconds on her six kilometer time, and has finished in the front of every Blue Angels pack.
Right on Hove's heels, Natalie Guyette (So./Schiocton, Wis.) and Danielle Sherrer (Jr./Milwaukee, Wis.). Both runners have been improving their times, and more importantly and maybe most astonishingly, their pace. Sherrer has taken 20 seconds off of her time per kilometer from the first race of the season, really demonstrating the hard work between races. Guyette has shaved a jaw dropping 40 seconds off of her time per kilometer from the first race, and had cut time incrementally each meet.
The six kilometer races seem to be the best for the Blue Angels cross country team, and time will tell if this race plays into that hand. With Guyette approaching the consistency of Sherrer and Hove, the finishing places for MMU will start to creep closer and closer to the top.
After the meet Saturday, the Blue Angels will get ready for the Wisconsin Private College Championship. The race in West Allis, Wis begins at 11:00 am on Oct. 11th.
