DETROIT (9/2/2016) -- Four of the top five runners were true freshmen as the University of Detroit Mercy men's cross country team opened the year at the Golden Grizzly Open on Friday evening.
The Titans finished in second place with 55 points in the 6k event, held on the campus of Metro Series rival Oakland.
Detroit Mercy will be back in action next Saturday, Sept. 10, when the program host the 30th Annual Running Fit-Detroit Titan Invitational at Cass Benton Park in Northville. The day will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the open races. The collegiate races are slated to start at 11:15. For more information,
click here.
Here is how the action went down at the Golden Grizzly Open:
- The Titans were without some veterans with graduate senior Austin Wigent and juniors Charlie Felton and Ben Kendell missing the race.
- Detroit Mercy had three runners in the top 12 and five in the top 20. Taking into account two unattached harriers, the red, white and blue claimed seven of the first 21 spots.
- Freshman Adam Fraeyman led the Titans in his collegiate debut taking 10th in 20:01.
- The rookie run continued with freshman Santana Scott placing 11th in 20:20.
- Freshman Scott Smith was right behind his classmate and teammate earning 12th in 20:26.
- Junior Cody Smith was the top returner on the day for the Titans placing 16th in 20:46, a PR by 29 seconds from his 21:15 at last year's Golden Grizzly Open.
- Freshman Brendan McClanahan clocked a 21:01 for 18th place.
- Sophomore Andrew Heitzhaus made his cross country debut and posted a time of 21:36 for 32nd.
- Detroit Mercy had some good performances turned in by a pair of unattached runners. Freshman James McCann placed eighth in 19:53, while junior Greg Ingle claimed 20th with a 21:14 time.
- Titan alum and a member of two Horizon League Championship teams Ryan Hofsess '14 was in the competition as an opener runner and placed sixth overall in 19:33.
