Repeating as a champion in any sport is difficult to accomplish. To three-peat is a rarity and a true sign of dominance.
Nevertheless, completing the trifecta was something Jamie Roflow was able to do Friday, as for the third year in a row she finished first in the BGSU-Toledo Cross Country Dual Meet, leading the Falcons to a 19-37 victory over the Rockets.
“Jamie does well every time she races,” said coach Cami Wells. “Jamie is very driven to get the most she can out of each opportunity and she did that again today.”
Roflow was excited at the opportunity to get the season started on the right foot.
“There were a lot of nerves since it was the first race of the season,” Roflow said. “It was a good chance for us to see where we are as a team and in our own individual training.”
Roflow’s time of 18:05 was nine seconds slower than her time last season in the dual. Still, she’s pleased with the result.
“I was very happy with how our team did at the dual meet this weekend,” Roflow said. “I know we gave our best efforts out there, and it was exciting to see several of my teammates out-kick the competition to the finish line.”
Roflow’s time was enough to hold off teammate Kim Settle, who finished second with a personal best time of 18:32 after a sprint to the finish with Toledo’s Nicole Camp.
“I am very happy for Kim,” Wells said. “She ran a great race and ran her personal best time for 5K even though the conditions with the wind were less than ideal.”
Overall the Falcons had four of the top five finishers in the race, including junior Stephanie Hillman, who finished fourth with a time of 18:54, and freshman Carly Bates, who finished fifth with a time of 19:21 in her first race as a Falcon.
“Carly ran a great first race,” Wells said. “Carly battled a lot of injuries her senior year in high school but she has rebounded very well.”
Next in line for the Falcons will be their own 20th Annual Mel Brodt Invitational on Sept. 16. The race begins at 11 a.m. Last year the Falcons finished first at the Mel Brodt Invitational with Roflow leading the way, setting a personal best time of 17:56.
“We have generally come in first or second and we always love competing at home,” Wells said. “We will get to see some other MAC schools with Ohio and Central Michigan coming so that will be a good test for us.”
The squad’s best runner already has her attention turned to the next event.
“I am definitely looking forward to running in the Mel Brodt Invitational,” Roflow said. “From what I’ve seen in practice and how we did in the meet on Friday, I think we can place really well as a team at this meet.”
