Cross country teams open season at Aquinas Invitational

The Olivet College men's and women's cross country teams opened their 2006 season today by participating in the Aquinas College Invitational at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids.

In the men's race, sophomore Thomas Ray (Constantine) was the top Olivet finisher as he covered the 8K course in 28:16. Following him was freshman Nicholas Tomsic (Bangor) in 29:46. The other Comet runners included senior Derrick Bean (Quincy), 30:03; freshman Thomas Giles (Gobles), 32:16; and freshman Joshua Osborne (Mancelona), 35:27.

Sophomore Kayleigh Hamilton (Hudsonville) led the Olivet women, finishing the 5K course in 21:50. Sophomore Tami Cahow (Climax-Scotts) was next in 22:59. The rest of the Comet women were freshman Laura Markin (South Lyon), 23:18; sophomore Jessica Woods (Climax-Scotts), 23:54; and freshman Stacey Nakata (Springport), 27:41.

The Comets are now idle until Saturday, Sept. 23, when they run at the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Jamboree. Saint Mary's (Ind.) College is the host school and the race gets under way at 1 p.m.