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ACC XC team fares well in season opener

The Alpena Community College cross country team began its season with high expectations and in their season opener, the Lumberjacks did not disappoint.

Competing at the Ray Helsing Bulldog Invitational at Ferris State, ACC looked like a team that will be reckoned with. The Lumberjacks’ top seven runners showed an 8:23 improvement over last year’s successful team on the same course.

“I am extremely pleased, but not surprised by today’s success,” Alpena coach Mark Jacobs said. “All the hard work and focus we have put in during practice carried over during the meet. As the old adage goes, ‘if you run fast in practice, you run fast during a race.'”

Jonathon Pischner (Charlevoix) led the team from the beginning with an outstanding first meet time of 28:23 over the 8K course. Competing against the majority of four-year schools, Pischner finished fourth overall for freshmen runners.

Following Pischner was Kolin Ghidoni (Alpena) 30:31, Joe Traynham (Onaway) 30:50, Ryan Wirgau (Alpena) 31:51, Nevin McHarg (Alpena) 32:19, Austin Enns (Hart) 32:44, Morgan McLean (Onaway) 33:30, Brady Wright (Gaylord) 33:44 and Sheldon Elkie (Hillman) 35:57.

“We still have some work to do to reach our year end goals, but we took a huge step today,” Jacobs said. “We put some of the junior college teams on notice today. Each one of my guys showed me heart, and that’s what pleases me the most.”

Other Alpena runners competing in Saturday’s races were Tellis Donajkowski (Saginaw Valley) 28:13, Taylor Stepanski (Saginaw Valley) 18:51/5K and Racheal McDonald (Ferris State) 19:47/5K.

The Lumberjacks travel to Michigan State next Friday for the Spartan Invitational.

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