Running cross country competitively on a hot September is never an easy task.
When you’re facing off against the 2nd ranked NAIA team in the nation that boasts an Olympic hopeful, it’s even more daunting.
The ISU Women’s Cross Country team ran well at the ISU Invitational but was overmatched and fell to the College of Idaho. Freshman Carly Hansen was the top individual finisher for the Bengals in the 4K, clocking a time of 16:26, for fifth overall.
“We’re going to be a really young team this year, but I wouldn’t underestimate us,” Hansen said. “We’re working hard and we’ll hold our own with some teams.”
Coach Janssen had an equally positive outlook.
“I was pretty pleased with the women’s team,” Janssen said. “I thought they ran very solid.”
With such a young team, Janssen chose to focus on the personal development of the teams as opposed to results, a point that was made clear by his praise of the women’s squad in a losing effort.
“I think in any activity [development] is what you have to focus on,” Janssen said. “If you start focusing on the result, you forget about the process.”
On the men’s side, senior Ray Miller came in second overall in the 5K race, marking his first time leading the Bengals. His time of 19:35 was the best time among collegiate runners and second only to unattached participant Matt Tyrell.
“We just knew we were going to win this one,” Miller said. “They’re a really young team and we’re a really young team, but I think since we’re used to training here, we knew we had it.”
Hansen and Miller were very appreciative of a larger turnout and more support from ISU supporters and fellow students.
“That would be awesome to have a whole bunch of people cheering for you,” Hansen said. “During the middle and towards the end of the race, it gets really hard.”
The Bengal Cross Country squads will head down to Provo to square off against the BYU Cougars Sept. 14.