Michigan Tech XC Opens Season with Yooper Skirmish

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech cross country squads opened the season with the Yooper Skirmish hosted at the Tech Trails. The meet showcased Michigan Tech and Lake Superior State as a course preview for the 2023 GLIAC Cross Country Championships being held on Oct. 21. 

"I was really happy with how both our men and women ran today," head coach Kristina Owen said. "Our courses at the Michigan Tech Trails are very challenging, and we still saw some very fast times out there. Our top racers, Tucker Ringhand and Hannah Loughlin, were both significantly faster than they were last year at Roy Griak, which is a hard course but not as hard as ours. 

"They're both looking absolutely fantastic. Hannah has been continuing her evolution from being a Michigan Tech soccer player to being a Michigan tech runner, and she just keeps getting better and better. It was really fun to see her win her race in such a dominant fashion."

The No. 18 nationally-ranked men of Michigan Tech took to the 8k course first, with the Huskies top-five finishing under 26:40. Tucker Ringhand won the men's race in 25:39.28. Joining Ringhand under 26:00 was Nick McKenzie, who placed second in 25:54.77.

The next three finishers for Tech spread 11 seconds in Sam Marshall (26:26.85), Ben Conlin (26:31.41) and Stanley Elder (26:37.88).

Michael Marshall and Callen Carrier rounded out the scorers for the Huskies, both dipping under 27:00. Marshall clocked in at 26:45.87, while Carrier ran 26:54.91.

In the women's 6k race, Michigan Tech went one-through-eleven being led by Hannah Loughlin, winning by over 30 seconds with her time of 22:53.71.

Of note, three freshmen for the Huskies were among the top-seven.

Sophia Rhein placed second (22:39.30), while Bridget Burns (24:07.23) and Hailee Zimpel (24:16.08) placed fourth and seventh, respectively. 

Cedar Gordon, Ingrid Halverson and Mady VanWieren were also within the top-seven.

Gordon ran 23:56.42 to place third, while Halverson (24:08.99) and VanWieren (24:10.08) placed fifth and sixth, respectively.

"We saw a lot of breakout performances today," Owen added. "Cedar Gordon and Sam Marshall both set new fastest times for collegiate 6k and 8k, which is incredible on this hard of a course. Our freshmen did really great as well, and we're looking good for the future. I'm really pleased with how today went overall, and I'm looking forward to hosting on these courses again on October 21st for the GLIAC Championships."

Up Next

Michigan Tech travels to Green Bay next Friday (Sept. 8) for the Phoenix Open, hosted by Green Bay. The men race at 3 p.m. while the women take to the start line at 4 p.m.