No team in Hillsdale College history has ever entered a season ranked as high as No. 2 in the NCAA Division II national preseason poll, until this year's women's cross country team.
Friday afternoon, the Chargers lived up to that billing.
Hillsdale hosted GLIAC rival Saginaw Valley State in a dual meet at Hayden Park. Charger runners took the top five places in a 15-46 win over the Cardinals. The fifth-place Hillsdale College runner, sophomore Hannah McIntyre, finished two seconds ahead of SVSU's top runner.
The Chargers' top two runners finished tied for first with identical times of 14:22.3. Seniors Emily Oren and Kristina Galat crossed the finish line simultaneously on this warm, humid day at Hillsdale's home course.
Kate Royer and Molly Oren tied for third place, each registering times of 14:25.2. McIntyre was fifth overall at 14:26.4.
The top non-scorer for Hillsdale was sophomore Amanda Reagle, who was eighth overall on the 4K course with a time of 14:39.5. Freshman Allysen Eads was ninth overall in her collegiate debut with a time of 14:48.3.