On Saturday, Oct. 7, Lawrence hosted its 12th annual Gene Davis Invitational at Reid Golf Course. Cross country runners from seven schools, including Lawrence, were in attendance.
Lawrence had an impressive showing at this meet, with the women’s team coming in second to Ripon College by just one point, and the men’s team placing third. Standout runners for the women included senior Cristyn Oliver, a two-time school record holder, who pulled ahead of Ripon’s Mikayla Flyte in the final stretch of the race to take second place; and first-year Jane Partsch, who placed fifth. As for the Lawrence men, first-years Finn Lee and Ryan Cassiday finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Head coach Jason Fast described the team’s performance as a success. Lee ran the 6th fastest time in Lawrence history for the 8K, and fifteen members of the women’s team ran either personal or season best times at the Gene Davis meet.
“This was our best competitive effort so far this season,” he said, “and [the team] used that competitiveness to push themselves to new heights. I have no doubts they are seeing/feeling it, too, and it will continue to propel them forward.”
For LUXC’s first-year members, this was the first home meet they have experienced. Partsch, Cassiday and fellow freshman Mari Rummel discussed their thoughts on the day.
“We got such a big turnout!” Partsch said. “It’s really nice, because in high school, no one ever came to support – it was like, the cross country team supported the cross country team – so it was really nice to see everyone.”
In fact, the atmosphere of the meet, as compared to those they had run as high schoolers, was commented on by all three teammates.
“I feel like a lot of people are here. I recognize a lot of people, so that’s fun!” Rummel said at the time. She also shouted out her fellow runners on the Lawrence track team: “It’s so fun that all the sprinters and jumpers are here, too, because in high school they never really came.” Cassiday agreed.
Coach Fast also echoed these sentiments. “The team was definitely energized by the huge home crowd. I saw many members of our administration, faculty and staff members from across our campus, and the team definitely took notice and showed our campus what we are made of.”
The first years also shared what their experience was like during the race itself.
“I usually just say… I don’t really feel the mental pressure at the 5K mark; I’m like, ‘I’ve already done 5K, so I only have to do 3K more. I just gotta keep pushing,” Cassiday said.
As for Partsch, “My most recent strategy is thinking about it like breaking it down mile by mile, instead of thinking about it like, ‘Oh, this is a race,’ it’s a workout, we’ll just go mile by mile. I think that’s helped me… I kinda just get tunnel vision, and if there’s a person [ahead], just hang onto that person.”
Rummel shared that she uses mantras to motivate herself as she runs. “They’re usually something like, ‘Stay with this teammate, stay with Natalie,’ or ‘You’re so strong, you got it!’”
The cross country team’s next meet is Saturday, Oct. 14 at UW-La Crosse.