By Journal Sports Staff

KINCHELOE – Led by sophomore Abby Fifarek and freshman Katelyn Smith, the Northern Michigan University women’s cross country team finished as runner-up at the Chris Yanni Memorial Invitational college cross country meet held at The Oaks Golf Course in Kincheloe.

Hosted by Lake Superior State, the meet is named after a decorated LSSU runner who died in a cycling accident in 1992. It is the Lakers’ only home meet of the season.

The Wildcats scored 51 points, placing all five of their scoring runners in the top 15, to finish runner-up to St. Norbert College of Wisconsin with 25. Alma was third with 68 while host LSSU rounded out the field with 100 as thunderstorms in the general area stayed away long enough to not interrupt the event.

Fifarek finished fourth overall on the five-kilometer course in 18 minutes, 38.70 seconds, while Smith was seventh in 19:12.01.

Alma’s Kaitlyn Arnold won the race in 17:29.91, not quite 20 seconds ahead of runner-up Erin Artz of St. Norbert and nearly two minutes faster than last year’s top time.

Northern’s other scorers were junior Kieren Becker, 12th in 19:37.58; freshman Hanna Torvi, 13th in 19:39.86; and freshman and Marquette Senior High School graduate Shayla Huebner, 21st in 20:19.36. Huebner actually scored in 15th place with a number of extra St. Norbert runners placing between Torvi and Huebner.

The Wildcats’ other two entrants were sophomore Hannah Lonergan, 23rd in 20:26.00; and sophomore Maddie Walters, 24th in 20:26.44. Lonergan, who graduated from Novi but who parents have lived in Marquette County, and Walters also finished six places higher on the team scoring list.

Northern had several other runners competed, too, in a field that totaled 51 runners. Sophomore Clara Churchill of Negaunee High School was 26th in 20:31.27, senior Shannon Flynn was 27th in 20:35.76, sophomore Kalina Pfannenstiel was 32nd in 21:22.78 and sophomore Caroline Arlasky was 36th in 21:45.08.

St. Norbert also won the four-team men’s meet with 26 as LSSU was runner-up with 42. The Green Knights’ Riley Boyce won the 8K race in 26:53.14.

Northern returns to action on Friday, competing at the Spartan Invitational in East Lansing.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal. net.