Michigan
Gans Creek Classic
Bertram Leads U-M to 23rd-Place Finish at Gans Creek Classic
9/26/2025 2:56:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
Site: Columbia, Mo. (Gans Creek XC Course)
Event: Gans Creek Classic
Distance: Six Kilometers
U-M Team Finish: 23rd of 31 Teams (533 points)
Top U-M Individual: Stephanie Bertram, 61st (20:26.9)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Oct. 17 -- at Nuttycombe Invitational (Madison, Wis.), TBA
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The University of Michigan women's cross country team earned a 23rd place finish, led by Stephanie Bertram (61st, 20:26.9) at the Gans Creek Classic hosted by Missouri on Friday (Sept. 26) at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course.
Florida (18) won the meet, while Northern Arizona (126) finished second and Colorado (166) finished third.
U-M sat in 22nd through the first kilometer of the gold race, with Anjali Hocker Singh the lead Wolverine in 78th. Hocker Singh continued to lead the team through the 2K mark, dropping to 96th while the Maize and Blue fell to 24th.
At the halfway point, Hocker Singh moved up to 77th, and Bertram moved up 20 spots to just behind her at 81st. Hocker Singh maintained the lead position with two kilometers remaining, moving to 68th in her best position of the race, and Bertram moved into 79th.
Hocker Singh and Bertram were neck and neck heading into the final kilometer, at 68th and 70th, respectively, while Penelopea Gordon moved up 21 spots to sit in 109th. Bertram took the team lead at the finish line, finishing 61st with a personal best time of 20:26.9. Hocker Singh finished 69th with a personal best time of 20:31.0 and Gordon moved up 20 spots for an 89th-place finish (20:45.8). Bertram shaved more than 90 seconds from her previous best, while Hocker Singh shaved 20 seconds off hers.
In the black race, sophomore Natalie VanOtteren led the Wolverines with a 22nd-place finish and a personal best time of 21:14.0, and Mara Longenecker finished 55th (21:49.7). Caroline Beiting made her collegiate debut, placing 74th (22:03.2).
Michigan will get a break before returning to action at the Nuttycombe Invitational hosted by Wisconsin on Oct. 17.
Full Michigan Results
Gold Race
61. Stephanie Bertram — 20:26.9
69. Anjali Hocker Singh — 20:31.0
89. Penelopea Gordon — 20:45.8
156. Hannah Pricco — 21:23.4
170. Samantha Hastie — 21:32.4
171. Rylee Tolson — 21:32.8
175. Gabbie Michael — 21:35.0
191. Katelyn Watkins — 21:42.7
Black Race
22. Natalie VanOtteren — 21:14.1
55. Mara Longenecker — 21:49.7
74. Caroline Beiting – 22:03.2
112. Sophie Cloutier – 22:24.9
Players Mentioned
