Teddy Clark Sept. 19, 2009

Dutch 10th in strong Minnesota field

NORTHFIELD, MINN.—Angie Berry (senior, Norwalk) finished fourth in a powerful 277-runner field as the Central College women’s cross country team also placed fourth at the 16-team St. Olaf (Minn.) Invitational Saturday.  

The Central men were 10th in a 17-team field.

Berry covered the 6,000-meter course in 22:42, 19 seconds off her career best. Division II Univ. of Minn.-Duluth freshman Morgan Place took the title in 21:48. Berry was second among NCAA Division III runners.

“Angie ran a really smart race,” coach Joe Dunham said. “I think she’s progressing nicely and is continuing to get better every week.”

Minn.-Duluth also captured the team championship with 45 points, followed by Winona State Univ. (Minn.) with 87, the Univ. of St. Thomas (Minn.) 135 and Central with 140, two points ahead of host St. Olaf College (Minn.). No other Iowa Conference schools were in the field.

Dutch senior Hannah Anderson (Goodell, Garner-Hayfield HS) was 15th in 23:43, 5 seconds off her career best. Amber Mayer (senior, Essex, Shenandoah HS) was 17th in 23:46, Mel McDermott (freshman, Britt, West Hancock HS) was 43rd (24:41), Rachelle Tipton (senior, Newton) was 61st (25:12), Melanie Louis (sophomore, Davenport, Central HS) was 71st (25:32) and Jenna Broghammer (freshman, Iowa City, West HS) was 74th (25:34). The Dutch were without one of their top runners, Amy Ledvina (senior, Tama, South Tama HS), who will be back next week, Dunham said.

“For us to do this well without Amy is a great sign,” Dunham said. “The athletes stepped up and came ready to race. I think they were well-prepared mentally.”

Minn. State-Mankato was the men’s winner with 65 points, followed by Saint John’s Univ. (Minn.) The Dutch men had 237.

Senior Teddy Clark (Montomery, Ill., Oswego HS) eclipsed his personal-best 8,000-meter time by 21 seconds, placing 10th in 26:41.

“Teddy was happy with his race but he said he certainly was not satisfied,” Dunham said. “It’s good he’s still hungry and wanting to get better.”

Freshman John Gonzales (San Antonio, Texas, Brackenridge HS) continued to be an early season surprise, finishing 43rd in 27:44. Andrew Hamer (sophomore, Murray) was 48th (27:54), Austin Vondracek (junior, Swisher, Cedar Rapids Prairie HS) was 56th (28:03), Pierre Taylor (senior, Montgomery, Ill., Oswego HS) was 80th (28:58), Corey Fitzsimmons (senior, Pella0 was 85th (29:18) and Brandon Clough (freshman, Marshalltown, GMG HS) was 92nd (29:47).

“We’re a little banged up right now but this was definitely a step in the right direction after our first race,” said Dunham, who had been disappointed in the team’s season-opening effort at the Central Dutch Invitatinal Sept. 5.

Central has just six days off before competing in the Brissman-Lundeen Invitational, hosted by Augustana College (Ill.) Friday evening in Davenport.