EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University men's cross country team began its 2013 campaign today (Sept. 13) at the MSU Spartan Invitational.  

Leading the Cardinals for the men was junior Drew Meylan (Bay City, Mich./Bay City Western HS), who clocked-in at 25:52, good for a 47th place finish.  Junior Tony Peel (Swartz Creek, Mich./Swartz Creek HS) was not far behind, coming in at the 26:10 mark and finishing 56th.  Charlend Howard (Gaylord, Mich./Gaylord HS) finished his first collegiate race in a time of 26:37 to take 83rd place, while senior Gareth Gose (Leslie, Mich./Leslie HS) placed 89th at 26:39.

Also competeing in their first college meet were freshmen Natanael Cruz and Joseph Southgate (Unionville, Mich./Unionville-Sebewaing Area HS), who finished at 26:43 (98th) and 26:45 (100th), respectively.  Another freshman Joshua Verlac came in 113th place at 27:01 followed closely by Christopher Coon at 27:05 (120th).

Junior Travis Toye (Davison, Mich./Davison HS), and freshmen Ryan Hearth (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac HS) and Kurt Gulick (Breckenridge, Mich./Breckenridge HS) rounded-out the Cardinal lineup, placing 159th, 167th and 193rd, in a field of 286 runners.

The Cardinals will be back in action at the Lansing Community College Invitational on Friday, Sept. 27.