Wayne State University Athletics

Reagan Justice won her third consecutive season-opening event at the Skippers Cross Country Showcase on Friday.

Women's Cross Country 9/1/2023 7:27:00 PM Matthew Jurek, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Justice Leads Women's Cross Country Contingent in Strong First Meet at SC4 Showcase

The Warriors placed first out of four teams at the event.

GOODELLS, Mich. -- In the first opportunity to compete in a collegiate event this fall, the Wayne State University women's cross country squad made the most of its chance, as WSU notched a victory over three other schools at the Skippers Cross Country Showcase on Friday evening.

The 5K event was held at Goodells County Park. WSU won the meet with 15 points, followed by NAIA members University of Michigan-Dearborn (61 points) and Rochester University (79 points). In fourth were the host Skippers of Saint Clair County Community College (NJCAA).

Wayne State nabbed the first eight finishing positions and finished with the lowest possible amount of points. 39 runners competed in the event across the four programs. Reagan Justice (Canton, Mich. / Salem) led the Green and Gold contingent with a time of 18:25.40, just over a minute quicker than Thailyia Christansen (Flushing, Mich. / Flushing) and Briana Vojinov (Brownstown, Mich. / Woodhaven). The two Warriors posted the same finishing time of 19:26.10. For Justice, the result was her third straight season-opening victory. She won the Warrior Challenge to open the 2021 season and the Northwood Invitational to begin 2022.

Anna O'Connor (Waterford, Ireland) completed her first race for WSU in the fourth position with a time of 21:55.00. She transferred from Saint Leo after competing in parts of three seasons for the Lions. Rounding out the top five was Annalee Misch (Macomb, Mich. / Utica Eisenhower), completing the five kilometers four seconds behind O'Connor (21:59.00).

Across the finish line sixth through eighth, respectively, were Charlene Yarema (Romeo, Mich. / Romeo) - 22:03.30, Aubrey Migoski (Wyandotte, Mich. / Roosevelt) - 22:04.60, and Mattie Drennan (Clarkston, Mich. / Clarkston) - 22:07.20.

In 12th came Katherine Ray (Novi, Mich. / Novi) with a time of 22:13.80, while Emily Gordon (Northville, Mich. / Northville) registered 13th with a mark of 22:15.10. Behind them was Robin Bresolin (LaSalle, Ont. / St. Thomas of Villanova), who posted a time of 22:17.60. Layla Martini's (Casnovia, Mich. / Kent City) 22:24.30 was enough for 16th place.

Freshman Anna Gdowski (Northville, Mich. / Northville) ran unattached in her first collegiate race. She came home in the 18th spot (22:34.30). Rounding out the finishing order for the Green and Gold were Sarah Greb (Washington, Mich. / Romeo) (22nd - 22:41.20), Natalie Davies (Chelsea, Mich. / Chelsea) (23rd - 22:43.70), Jillian Vera (Saugatuck, Mich. / Saugatuck) (24th - 22:46.60), and Rachel Felstow (Leonard, Mich. / Romeo) (26th - 22:48.20).

QUOTING COACH LOFDAHL
"We did a good job of packing up and working together throughout the race. Unfortunately, things got chaotic toward the end of the race. There was confusion with the course and the lead vehicle, so most of the runners ran significantly longer than 5000 meters. However, our women competed hard to the end (the outcome/finish was not affected). Reagan, Bri [Vojinov], and Thailyia did a nice job up front, along with a nice WSU debut from Anna O'Connor. Annalee Misch had a great summer of training and it was nice to see her start the season so strong as well."

UP NEXT
Wayne State will next host its annual Warrior Challenge at Willow Metropark in New Boston, Mich. on September 15. The women's six-kilometer race is set to begin at 5 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

Robin Bresolin: 5' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

Natalie Davies: 5' 7"; Junior

Mattie Drennan: 5' 6"; Junior

Rachel Felstow: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Anna Gdowski: 5' 8"; Freshman

Emily Gordon: 5' 7"; Junior

Sarah Greb: 5' 4"; Redshirt Freshman

Reagan Justice: 5' 4"; Junior

Layla Martini: 5' 5"; Junior

Aubrey Migoski: 5' 6"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Robin Bresolin
: 5' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

Natalie Davies
: 5' 7"; Junior

Mattie Drennan
: 5' 6"; Junior

Rachel Felstow
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Freshman

Anna Gdowski
: 5' 8"; Freshman

Emily Gordon
: 5' 7"; Junior

Sarah Greb
: 5' 4"; Redshirt Freshman

Reagan Justice
: 5' 4"; Junior

Layla Martini
: 5' 5"; Junior

Aubrey Migoski
: 5' 6"; Sophomore