Everest Collegiate Girls Cross Country hit the ground running in their first meet of the season, Michigan Catholic XC Invitational in DeWitt on Saturday.
“What an incredibly strong start to the season,” said Coach Mary Williams. “With 17 of our 23 runners competing, it was the strongest start to the season yet for our squad, even while running against teams from much larger schools.”
Sophomore Avery Herrgott led the team with a time of 22:44.2, finishing in 27th place.
“She was hitting paces I didn’t see her run at meets until October last year,” Williams added.
Avery was followed by freshmen Caroline Cross with a time of 23:06.9, the fifth fastest time for a freshmen in Everest Collegiate history. Junior Theresa Waller was next with a time of 23:31.4, and sophomore Erin Booms, 23:57.2. Freshmen Allison Tong was the fifth finisher and final scorer for the varsity squad, finishing at 25:06.7.
The top five scorers finished with at total of 189 points for eighth place in the meet with a spread of 2:22 for the top five.

“A tight spread like that is good for the team, predicting that as the team progressively improves our score should drop, and we aren’t relying on one front runner,” Williams said.
She added eight of the ten runners who competed in the meet improved their time from same meet last year.
Freshmen Alyse Felix led the JV squad with a time of 24:43.
“I’m extremely proud of all of the girls, particularly our newest runners,” Williams said. “A first race can be nerve-wracking. It was probably our most grueling meet from a schedule perspective. I’m very excited for the season.”
The Mountaineers head to the Trenton Watermelon Invite on Thursday, 4 p.m.
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Everest Collegiate High School alumni worked out with the cross country team at their Aug. 13 practice and then shared some tips for the season.
“There is a chance you may get hurt. Wait, I take that back. When you get hurt, talk to coach; she will make a plan with you. If it still hurts, just get through it,” said Leah Radich, Class of 2019, during Tuesday’s annual alumni run.
Sarah Stafford, Class of 2017, and Monica Williams, Class of 2018, switched to cross country in their senior year. They both spoke about how the team dynamic in cross country is unlike any other sport they had participated in. The alumni also motivated the runners to push themselves.
“It is more of a family than a team,” Radich Leah.
“You are capable of more than you think you are,” Stafford said.

  Clarkston Everest Collegiate, Everest