ACC Runs Well at Jayhawk Invite

Competing against a top-notch field, the Alpena Community College cross country squad competed in the tough Jayhawk Invite hosted by Muskegon Community College on Saturday, Oct. 12 and finished with some impressive individual times and finished 13th out of 23 schools competing overall.

"It was a great day for the Lumberjacks!," coach Mark Jacobs said. "To say I was proud is an understatement. First time in seven years we have had three runners under 29 minutes for an 8k race."

ACC's Ryan Allen finished in 27:54, the seventh fastest time in school history. Chip Allen ran a 28:50, his season best. Ty Kailing (28:58), Dante Gray (30:15) and Ben Purat (31:51) also had career best times.  

Calvin Hibbler (33:35 - season best), Carter Upper (33:50 - despite running while ill) and Forrest Hissong (37:21 - career best) also competed for the Lumberjacks.

The field included four-year colleges running as teams as well as other NCAA Division 2 runners running individually, as well as some of the best JUCO teams in the midwest.

Lansing Community College, ranked #3 in the country in NJCAA Division 2 won the event as a team. The next three JUCO finishers were St. Clair Community College, Mott Community College and Grand Rapids Community College, all ranked in the top 17 teams in the country. 

"We ran the same course three weeks ago and have improved by three minutes, 11 seconds per runner," Jacobs observed. "Hard work does definitely pay off."

ACC will close out the cross country season at the Region 12 cross country championship in Port Huron on Friday, Oct. 25.