To kick off the 2025 season, the Kent State Cross Country team traveled to Wooster, OH and filled up the leaderboard for the Wooster Invite. 

Entering her second year as the cross country head coach, Laura Rybka said the team has focused on the fundamentals during the offseason to prepare for the season.  

“Summer sets the foundation for the entire year,” Rybka said. “The goal over the summer was to perfect the basics and to come in strong fundamentally.” 

Five Golden Flashes recorded top-10 finishes in the women’s 4K race. 

“Honestly the whole team stands out to me,” Rybka said. “I could list every person and why I was impressed. This group is tough.”

Junior Ella McCollom won the first race of her career as a Golden Flash. She completed the women’s 4k in 15:12.7, which was eight seconds ahead of every other runner. 

“Ella’s game was great,” Rybka said. “She is a tough and smart competitor.” 

Graduate student Grace Smith and sophomore Nora Salem both recorded times of 15:46.3, placing fourth and fifth. 

Freshman Camille Dunifer followed them at 15:47.7 for sixth. 

“I think that the team ran smart and competed together,” Rybka said. “We also moved up at the end.”

Sophomore Alexis Tracy crossed the line at 15:53.0 for ninth place.

“Alexis Tracy raced with so much joy and composure, after having almost a year off of racing,” Rybka said. “It looked like she hadn’t taken any time off.”

In the men’s 4-mile race, four freshmen led the way for Kent State.

Michael Hanselman debuted with a time of 21:44.5, scoring fourth place. Redshirt freshman Caleb Wilcox finished in eighth place at 22:02.6. Owen Kelly (22:09.8) and Tanner Smith (22:25.2) scored 11th and 13th. 

Along with the Flashes and Wooster, Baldwin Wallace, Cleveland State and Otterbein also had top-10 finishes in the men and women’s races. 

The Flashes will compete again on Friday, Sept. 19 at the All-Ohio Classic in Cedarville, OH. 

Although pleased with the first meeting of the season, Rybka sees an opportunity to improve for future meets this season. 

“I love how we competed together, but would like to see tighter packs instead of stringing out a bit if individuals are close,” Rybka said. “I really emphasize pack racing, and we have a lot of new women, so it always takes a race or two.” 

To cap her thoughts on the meet and what comes next, Rybka quoted from legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. 

“It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” 

Emily Lowen is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].