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Jeryn Frisbie didn’t just win the MCCAA Northern Conference Championship on Oct. 2 — he announced himself. 

The Belding native and Montcalm Community College freshman cross country runner crossed the line in 27 minutes, 31.9 seconds, a personal record (PR) and the first major collegiate win of his career.  

But for Frisbie, the moment wasn’t a surprise. It was the result of a plan he’d been sharpening since the season began. 

“For me personally, everything went how it was planned and I executed it perfectly to win the race,” Frisbie said. “For the new PR, I’m expecting to keep lowering those as the season goes.” 

Frisbie beat his previous best by about 15 seconds, pulling away early and settling into a strategy he and MCC head coach Nate “Q” Van Holten had mapped out. 

“When I got ahead in the race, our plan was to coast until the third mile and just go from there,” he said. “After that, I was alone.” 

Van Holten said the performance was exactly what he hoped to see — disciplined, patient and decisive. 

“Great execution,” Van Holten said. “The PR was a bonus as we were only looking to win. I knew he had the ability to do it. Just wanted to see if he could stay patient and execute a plan. And he did.” 

A Season built on routine, self‑motivation 

Frisbie’s rise this fall has come with its own challenges as MCC’s men’s team has just two full-time runners — him and fellow freshman Elijah Quigley (Greenville, Mich.).  

The challenge of having to lean on just one other runner leaves Frisbie without the typical pack to train with.  

But, he said, he’s used to that. 

“So far, with only having two runners on MCC’s men’s team, it’s been really challenging for certain workouts,” he said. “I had this similar experience in high school, so overcoming it is pretty easy because I push myself to what I can do.” 

He’s also balancing basketball and cross country — a workload he calls “really solid,” thanks to a routine he’s dialed in. 

“As for my improvements from last year, just getting down a good routine, staying healthy, working out and being consistent has helped me improve,” he said. “Especially in workouts and having the mentality just to keep going.” 

College mileage, he said, has been the biggest adjustment. 

“There’s a lot more mileage in cross country, and the intensity of each week of running and its workouts,” Frisbie said. “My main focus is just to stay in my routine of performing well and improving.” 

Finding his place — and his potential 

Frisbie didn’t enter cross country with dreams of collegiate competition. He joined the sport to stay in shape for basketball. Somewhere along the way, however, he realized he was built for more. 

“For me getting into the sport of cross country, it was really to stay in shape for my other sports like basketball,” he said. “But then I started to love it and realized my potential.” 

Now, he’s the first in his family to run cross country at the college level. His older brother sprinted at Aquinas College, but distance running is Jeryn’s territory. 

“It feels pretty good to be a college athlete,” he said. “Compared to Belding High School, it’s like a new level of experience.” 

He said MCC’s team culture has made the transition easier. 

“So far, everyone on our team is really supportive and open to whatever,” he said. “I just like how it’s like a family.” 

Looking ahead 

Frisbie’s win at the MCCAA Championships gives him momentum heading into the Jayhawk Invite (at Muskegon Community College Saturday, Oct. 17) and the postseason beyond it. 

“For me, winning this race just gives me more confidence. I have a better understanding of my race strategy for going into regionals and nationals,” he said. 

Van Holten echoed that sentiment, saying the victory should help Frisbie settle into tougher competition. 

“Hopefully, it builds confidence,” Van Holten said. “Now we’ll see how he does in bigger fields.” 

As for academics, Frisbie said he’s still exploring his options. 

“I’m still trying to figure out what I’m studying for college,” he said. “But I’m leaning toward something into coaching.” 

For now, he’s focused on the next race — and proving that Friday’s win wasn’t a one-off, but the start of something bigger.