Pierre Taylor Sept. 13, 2008

Central endures rain-drenched meet

GRINNELL—In a 26-team field that included three nationally ranked teams, the Central College men's cross country team was 19th at a soggy Les Duke Invitational.

The 6,000-meter women’s course and 8,000-meter men’s course at the Oakland Acres Golf Course near Grinnell will be the site of the NCAA Division III Central Regional Nov. 15 and consequently Saturday’s meet attracted seven regionally ranked women’s teams eager for a preview.

The Dutch women were seventh in a 24-team field. The men’s and women’s runners had to contend with some drizzle following heavy rains that inundated the course in the previous 24 hours.

“The course was pretty soggy and in one spot there was standing water,” coach Stephen Fyfe said. “So we pretty much ignored most of the times.”

Despite the conditions, Angie Berry (junior, Norwalk) was 18th in 23:48 in an enormous 328-runner field, more than a minute faster than last year when she turned in a 24:56 effort. Jess Clark (senior, Riverdale, Ill., Port Byron HS) was 30th in 24:22, a 25-second improvement over 2007. Amber Mayer (junior, Essex, Shenandoah HS) was 42nd (24:41), Amy Ledvina (junior, Tama, South Tama HS) 49th (24:53), Hannah Anderson (junior, Goodell, Garner-Hayfield HS) 70th (25:14), Melanie Louis (freshman, Davenport, Central HS) 103rd (25:58) and Jenni Hufford (junior, Ankeny) 109th (26:05).

Mayer was another runner who improved her time over last year despite the course conditions, making a 13-second jump. Fyfe is encouraged by her progress.

“Amber ran an exceptional race,” he said. “She moved up in the field. She was sick over the summer and didn’t get the base she would have liked. She’s really just now rounding into form.”

Wartburg, ranked second in the region and 12th nationally, claimed the team title with 104 points, while Carleton (Minn.) had 141 and Central had 209.

Pierre Taylor (junior, Oswego, Ill.) continued his resurgence, placing 35th in 27:37, a huge improvement over his 29:23 finish a year ago. Jaron Byrum (senior, New London) was 98th (28:50) with Andrew Hamer (freshman, Murray) 112th (29:09), Derek Townsend (senior, Perry) 118th (29:17), Brandon Williams (senior, McKee, Iowa Mennonite HS) 124th (29:27), Corey Fitzsimmons (junior, Pella) 137th (29:44) and Tyler Husak (senior, Tama, South Tama HS) 142nd (30:04).

Iowa Central Community College edged 24th-rated Washington-St. Louis (Mo.) 130-137 for the team crown, followed by Hamline (Minn.) with 144. Central had 487 points.

“It was a good day but not a great day,” Fyfe said. “It was a good experience for both teams to run in that big of a field and learn how easily you can get separated from teammates.”

The Dutch are off until Sept. 27 when they’re part of a powerful field at the Roy Griak Invitational at St. Paul, Minn. Central last competed in the meet in 2003. Fyfe said the large

Les Duke meet field helped prepare his squads for the Roy Griak meet.

“We know a little more about what’s going to happen in Minnesota,” he said. “We’re going to have a really good 10 days of practice and then see where we’re at in the Griak meet.”