Cross Country posts strong showing at Southern Stampede
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

Sarah Williams and KWU coach Jeff Barker show off Williams' gold watch she received for finishing in the top ten at the Southern Stampede

JOPLIN, Mo. – Among the big boys, Kansas Wesleyan’s cross country teams ran well and posted strong showings at the Missouri Southern Stampede on Saturday. The women posted a 19th place finish out of 34 teams in a meet that featured several NCAA Division I and Division II teams, as well as other top NAIA programs. The men finished 14th out of 26 teams.

On the women’s side senior Sarah Williams nearly missed Wesleyan’s school record in the 5K race, finishing with a 17:52 in eight place overall out of nearly 280 runners in the race. The KWU school record is 17:50, set by Jolene Mick in 2006.

“To see Sarah break the 18-minute mark is huge,” KWU coach Jeff Barker said. “That would put her in the top ten at a lot of meets at any level. She really stepped up today and ran well.”

Kara Walker was the next finisher for the Coyotes in 96th position, but also ran very well for early in the year, coming in with a 19:45. Other finishers for the Coyote women included Shanda Anderson in 104th place, running a 19:57; Angela Gomez in 172nd place, running a 21:29; Brittany Brown in 199th position, running a 22:14; and Angela Padilla in 265th, running a 25:39.

On the men’s side, Mike Rascon led the way for the Coyotes, finishing 81st overall, completing the 8K race in 27:37. Jeremy Davies was next, running a 27:45 to finish 88th overall out of nearly 275 runners in the men’s race.

Other men’s finishers for the Coyotes included Paul Minneman running a 28:14, Seth Schooley running a 29:12, Jose Silva finishing in 29:14 and Tyler Jensen running a 32:06.

“The men ran well for their first 8K of the year,” Barker said. “They will continue to improve and will make a run at the end of the year for us.”

The Coyotes will be back in action in two weeks when they head to Stillwater, Okla., to run in the Oklahoma State Cowboy Jamboree. The women’s race is scheduled to start at 8 a.m., with the men to follow shortly afterwards.

-- KWU SI --