BLOG 4: Mangieri enjoys opportunity to compete in front of home fans

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris cross country runner Mike Mangieri works hard during the Bulldog Invitational on Friday at Katke Golf Course. (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – Mike Mangieri, like his teammates, savored the opportunity to get out on their home course and compete during the annual Bulldog Invitational at Katke Golf Course Friday afternoon.

Mangieri, a Big Rapids native and a senior for the Ferris State University men’s cross country team, turned in a solid effort as he placed 20th in the field of runners during the 8K race and clocked a time of 27:10.91.

Interim Ferris cross country coach Steve Picucci is working to get his runners ready to peak at the end of the season, for the conference meet and regional championship, so the emphasis is not as strong on raw results at this stage of the fall. But, the team certainly wanted to put on a good show for fans and to serve notice on the course that will be the site for the regional championship (Nov. 8).

“I was real nice for us to able to run on our home course because we’re familiar with it and it gives us another chance to compete on it to get ready for the regional meet that will be (at Katke) later in the season,” Mangieri said. “It was also nice because we had lots of people out here cheering for us and that does help a lot when you know you have people who are supporting you and pulling for you.”

Mangieri has appreciated the emphasis on preparation for the season that has been a major focus for Picucci.

“It has been real good for us,” said the former Ferris men’s track and field Rookie of the Year award recipient (2005-06). “He has worked with us (in the past) so we were familiar with him and we had an idea of what to expect. Plus, he told us what we were going to have to do so we were prepared from it in that way too. We knew it was going to be a lot harder for us, with our preparation, but we also knew it was going to make us better and that was the thing we focused on.”

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com