LAKERS COMPETE AT NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY MEET

Nine members of the Iowa Lakes Community College Cross Country Team traveled to the National Junior College Athletic Association Championship Meet Saturday at Rim Rock Farm at the University of Kansas, in Lawrence.

The women’s team came in 23^rd overall with a total of 609 points in the 5K event.  The best finish was from freshman Cassie Hanson, Spirit Lake, who came in 80^th with a time of 21:21. The next best performance was from freshman Juli Larson, Slayton, Minn., who placed 150^th overall with a time of 23:40.  She was followed by sophomore Kacie Schmidt, Garner, who was 170^th in the race with a time of 25:12.  The fourth best Laker finish was from sophomore Tara Wielenga, Sheldon, whose time of 25:26 put her in 172^nd place.  Sophomore Alison Treanor, Minnesota Lake, Minn., was 177^th with a time of 26:32.  Freshman Mackenzie Eggers did not finish the race due to an injury.

“On the women’s side we were very happy to run to our ranking (of 23^rd in the nation), considering one of our top runners did not finish,” said Mike Nichols, Head Coach for the Cross Country team. 

The Laker men competed individually on the 8K course.  Freshman Joshua Eaton of Cherokee came in 159^th with a time of 30:22.  Freshman Logan McDonald, Spirit Lake, was 180^th with a time of 32:08.  Cody Mortenson, a freshman from Cherokee, placed 195^th with a time at 35 minutes flat.

This was the third national cross country meet in which the Lakers participated. 

Cross country is open to both men and women at Iowa Lakes Community College.  To find out more information on athletics at Iowa Lakes, visit www.iowalakes.edu and click on ‘Athletics.’