Lady Viking frosh cross sensation medalist at MSU Invitational

It’s been a big week for freshman cross-country runner Laura Velderman of Hopkins.

The first-year running sensation captured individual medalist honors in her division at the Michigan State University Spartan Invitational Friday in East Lansing. She won in 21:13, by 16 seconds over senior Kayla DelaCruz of Salem.

Earlier in the week Velderman took top individual honors for the first time in her career by besting all comers in the Delton-Gilmore Invitational.

The Hopkins girls’ team finished seventh in the 19-team field at MSU with 186 team points. Salem won it with 60 and Saginaw Heritage was third with 123.

The Hopkins guys finished 17^th with 521 team points. LaSalle won the 40-team competition with 50 and Livonia Stevenson was second with 64.

Jasmine Fisher was the second best Lady Viking for the day, as the freshman took 45^th in 23:16. She was followed by Taryn Kilbane, 51^st in 23:24; Madison Snoeyink, 58^th in 23:42, and Samantha Myers, 89^th in 24:16.

Sophomore Ethan Nagel led the Viking boys with a 47^th place in 19:20. Freshman Dan Rausch, who has been running strong of late, checked in 50^th in 19:25, and rounding out the scoring were Christopher Tortorelli, Josh Verburg and Jared Bowman.

PHOTO: Laura Velderman and her medal at MSU.

Freshman Jasmine Fisher was the second best Lady Viking runner at MSU, finishing 45^th.