Cross country teams tune-up for conference in Wisconsin

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Simpson cross country teams took part in the 2009 Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer Invitational Saturday, the final meet of the season before the Iowa Conference Championship Oct. 31.

Men's Results

The men placed 20th of 29 teams, scoring 569 points. Luke Weber edged out teammate Ryan Edwardson, placing 75th of 462 runners. Weber completed the 8 km course in 26:22, just ahead of Edwardson's 26:24. Edwardson came in 78th.

"We ran a tactical race today," cross country head coach Brad Hofer said. "Luke and Ryan are running well in the lead positions. Ryan is still getting over illness, and Casey Dunning has been battling illness as well, but we hope to be at full strength for the conference meet."

Dunning ran a 27:28, good for the third-best time on the team and 198th overall. Matt Stone's 27:54 paced 234th overall and Mitchell Davis took 271st (28:14).

Ben Duea served the part of Simpson's breakout runner, registering a top-7 varsity finish for the first time this season. Duea placed 304th after running a 28:44. John Warnke rounded out the top-7 for Simpson, placing 324th (29:04).

The men are making the right steps and progressing as the season goes along," Hofer said.

Women's Results

Running without their number one runner, Catie Ellingson, the women placed 19th of 27 teams, scoring 503 points.

Sarah Hammel took top honors for the Storm in Ellignson's absence, placing 54th after running a 23:16. Jess Christensen took 84th, completing the course in 23:38.

Tricia Davis ran a 24:15, good for 141st place overall.

"The team ran really well as a whole today," Hofer said. We had some underclassmen step up into places where we needed them and had people make really big breakthroughs."

One of those breakthrough's came from the Storm's fourth-place finisher, sophomore Signe Mayland. Mayland's 24:59 was a season-best, as she placed 198th overall. Classmate Erin Guzman ran a 25:30, good for fifth on the team and 244th overall. Freshman Jade Boyle placed 276th (26:04) and freshman Molly Rhodes (26:09, 281st) rounded out the varsity finishers for the Storm.

"Signe set a personal-best today, closing the gap at our No. 4 spot," Hofer said. "Erin Guzman, Jade Boyle and Molly Rhodes also made big jumps."

Simpson went into the weekend ranked 10th in the Central Region.

"Our conference is tough, but we're making the right strides running faster times and smarter races," Hofer said.