GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Mount Mary University Cross Country Team began their season today at the Tom Barry Invitational. With this year's race expanding to 14 teams, the Blue Angels finished 10th in team scoring at the five kilometer race. Host St. Norbert College took first place in team scoring, while St. Scholastica's Hovland Casey finished in first place with a 17:51.2 time.
Two of the three Blue Angel runners that raced in last season's Tom Barry Invitational, finished with better times than they did in last year's race. Hayley Hove (Sr./Golden Valley, Minn.) and Carlie O'Donnell (So./ Sharon, Wis.) cut significant time down. Hove went from 24:16.6 in 2015, to 23:49.1 this season and a 65th place finish. O'Donnell ran a 27:53.0 last season and went down to 26:57.1 to begin the year in 2016.
Natalie Guyette (Sr./Shiocton, Wis.) led the way for MMU finishing 41st with a 21:52.9 time. The senior is right on pace with last season, and has been a runner who routinely cuts her time throughout her three previous seasons.
In a big turnaround from last season Christina Ishaq (So./Milwaukee, Wis.) set her personal collegiate best with a 22:15.6 and her best place in a field of over 91 runners at 45th.
New comers Sarah Anklam (So./St. Marys, Ga.) and Mary Banuelos (So./Riverside, Calif) finished with times of 32:24.5 and 35.31.3 respectively to begin their NCAA cross country careers.
Out of the 14 teams invited, five teams were from the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference including MMU. The Blue Angels finished third out of the NACC schools while Wisconsin Lutheran College placed seventh overall; the highest place of any NACC team.
The Blue Angels will continue the cross country season next Saturday on the campus of Concordia University for the Ken Weidt Classic. The race in Mequon, Wis. begins at 12:00 pm Sat. Sept. 10th. Stay tuned to mtmaryathletics.com for updates.
