ESCANABA, MI – The Bay College Cross Country Teams are gearing up for their season. Second year Head Coach Scott Carhoun has built strong rosters for both teams with the women's team returning three runners and adding four, while the men's team returns one runner from last season but are adding five new faces.
Dustin Brewster (SO, Manistique, MI) is the lone returner for Men's Cross Country. Brewster was one of the top two runners for Bay last year week in and week out. He participated in all six events for the Norse a season ago and set a personal best 8k time in Appleton, WI last year with a time of 34:53.8.
Joining him on the roster this season is Tanner Howes (FR, Gladstone, MI), Ethan Lawrence (FR, Republic, MI), Oren Marcoe (FR, Daggett, MI), Ben Smith (FR, Gladstone, MI), and Cameron Smith (FR, Escanaba, MI). The strong numbers this year will help the men post a team score, something they were not able to do last year.
On the Women's side Bay returns three women that had strong seasons a year ago. Hattie Cota (SO, Munising, MI) was the top runner for the Norse throughout the season a year ago. She finished in the top third of the field in last year's NJCAA Region XII Championship last season. She posted her personal best at the Marian Ancilla Invite in Indiana last season with a 5K time of 21:15.5, which was almost two minutes better then her previous best mark.
Veronica Spreitzer (SO, Escanaba, MI) was routinely right on the heels of Cota throughout the season and also set her best time in Indiana. Her 5K time there was 23:57.4. Spreitzer ran in all six events for Bay a year ago.
Devyn Lusardi (SO, Stephenson, MI) missed just one event last season and improved her time every event she was in. She posted her personal best in the Region XII Championship, crossing the finish line in 27:11.5.
Four new faces join the team this year with one of them that may be familiar to Norse fans. Kayla Farnes (FR, Escanaba, MI) joins the team this year. Siena Lingle (FR, Skandia, MI) is a member of the Women's Basketball Team and will be a dual-sport athlete this year. Also joining the team is Natalie Spreitzer (FR, Escanaba, MI) the younger sister of Veronica. Grace Van Wormer (FR, Garden, MI) rounds out the roster, giving the women's team the best numbers they have had in the history of the program.
"There are a lot of great athletes on the team, and I feel blessed to coach another well-rounded group of runners this season," said Coach Carhoun. "The chemistry between the veterans and the incoming freshman is refreshing to see, and I know we're going to have a lot of fun."
The Norse opened the season on August 23 at Northern Michigan in an exhibition meet. They get into conference meets on August 30 at St. Claire County and on September 20 at Muskegon. Bay then travels to Grayling on October 4 to be a part of the Firebird Invitational at Kirtland.
For the first time since 2020 Bay College will have a home meet that will round out their regular season schedule on October 18.
The Region XII Championship is set to be run on October 25 in Port Huron, MI.
The Norse website (www.baynorse.com), Facebook page, and X page will feature the latest stories, statistics, and news from Norse Cross Country throughout the season.