Sept. 17, 2005

Wolf second, runners have strong day at St. Olaf

NORTHFIELD, MINN.- Adam Wolf (junior, Corning) finished second in a strong field as the Central College men's and women's cross country teams had a solid day at the St. Olaf Invitational Saturday. The Dutch men's squad placed fifth with 126 points in the 17-team field. Wolf covered the 8,000-meter course in 26:18. Minnesota State-Mankato placed first with 57 points, followed by Saint John's (Minn.) with 72.

"Adam ran a super race today and showed us what he is capable of doing in back-to-back meets," head coach Jeff Bovee said, noting Wolf placed first in the season-opening Central Dutch Invitational Sept. 3. "He's taken a big jump in his performances from last season. He has a great shot at (qualifying for the NCAA Division III meet) later in the season."

Bryan George (senior, Pella HS) was 22nd (27:19), Joe Jefferson (junior, Decorah) was 33rd in (27:45), Michael McLoughlin (senior, Fort Dodge, St. Edmond HS) was 34th (27:50), T.J. Weiler (senior, Ankeny) was 35th (27:50), Brett Dietrich (sophomore, Williamsburg) placed 37th (27:54) and Brett Jones (junior, Knoxville HS) placed 41st (28:00).

"I thought our other runners did a great job on packing, or staying as a group," Bovee said. "When you are able to place close together, it really helps out the team. Bryan (George) ran a nice race and Joe (Jefferson) has been one of our most consistent runners. He has battled a foot injury this last week, but ran really well."

Rozendaal 11th for women-- On the women's side, the Dutch placed eighth out of 18 teams with 256 points. They were led by an 11th-place finish by Jill Rozendaal (senior, Grinnell, Lynnville-Sully HS) in 23:44 on the 6,000-meter course.

"Jill put out a real hard effort today," Bovee said. "I think that she went out a little too hard. She'll learn from that, but overall it was a pretty solid race considering the conditions."

Host St. Olaf (Minn.) placed first for the women with 71 points, followed by Macalester (Minn.) with 72.
Nicki Thomas (freshman, Omaha, Neb., Millard North HS) placed 37th (24:29), Jessica Clark (freshman, Port Byron, Ill., Riverdale HS) was 67th (25:52), Heidi Rathje (senior, Atkins, Benton HS) was 68th (25:55), Mackenzie Lauman (Shenandoah, Shenandoah-Essex HS) placed 73rd (26:11), Chantelle MacVey (freshman, Newton) placed 88th (26:59) and Amy Boesenberg (Cedar Rapids, Alburnett HS) was 97th (27:26).

"All of our women did well today," Bovee said. "Nicki (Thomas) ran a solid race and it was a big jump for her, too, from the previous meet. Heidi (Rathje), Mackenzie (Lauman), and Amy (Boesenberg) each ran well also. Chantelle (MacVey) ran a steady race and finished strong, for only running two cross country meets in her life."

MacVey runs shorter distances in track and hadn't competed in cross country prior to college.
Central is back in competition Friday evening at the Augustana Invitational in Davenport.