Mick finishes 22nd to earn All-American honors at Cross Country Nationals
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Mick and Williams pose for a picture after the completion of the 2006 NAIA Women's National Championship race on November 18 in Louisville, Ky.

Jolene Mick finished in 22nd place earning her NAIA All-American honors as two KWU runners competed at the NAIA Women’s National Cross Country Championships in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday.

KWU Coach Zach Kindler said he was pleased with how both runners ran, despite less than ideal conditions. “The course was extremely wet with most of the course consisting of grass covered mud,” he said. “It was by far the most fun course that we had ran all year just because of the conditions. There were some areas where the mud was 3 inches deep.” 

Mick finished with a time of 18:40 and Sarah Williams, Wesleyan’s other entry in the Championships, came in 112th with a time of 19:40. 

Kindler said that a second could have really made a difference in the race. “If either had ran a second faster or slower, it would have been a difference of about 8-10 spots. It was extremely competitive.”

Mick is the first-ever All-American that KWU has had on the women's side, and was the only All-American representing the KCAC this year, and the first for the conference since the 2001 season. 

“I was extremely pleased with how the ladies ran against the nation’s best runners,” Kindler said. “To come home with the 22nd and 112th best runners in the nation is a pretty successful season in my eyes.”

-- KWU SI --