Sept. 2, 2006

Central women roll to cross country title

PELLA - Five Central College women placed in the top 10 Saturday morning as they rolled to first place in the nine-team season-opening Central Dutch Invitational. The Dutch men recorded two top-10 finishes, but were edged for the eight-team men's title by Monmouth College ( Ill. ), 52-51.

Angie Berry (freshman, Norwalk ), in her first collegiate race, and Jessica Clark (sophomore, Port Byron , Ill. , Riverdale HS) finished one-two for the Dutch. The women had six newcomers crack their top seven, finishing with 27 points to easily outdistance second-place Simpson (54) and third-place Cornell (110). Berry finished in 19:32, followed closely by Clark in 19:34, almost two minutes faster than her time last year (21:17). Rounding out the women's scorers were Amber Mayer (freshman, Essex, Shenandoah HS), finishing 5th (20:02), Amy Ledvina (freshman, Toleda, South Tama HS), ninth (20:45) and Jenni Hufford (freshman, Ankeny) 10th (20:48).

"Jess Clark made a huge jump, and Angie (Berry) showed a lot of early leadership," coach Jeff Bovee said. "Jenni (Hufford) and Amy (Ledvina) really closed the race well, which was a big key for us to win. Nicki Thomas (sophomore, Omaha , Neb. , Millard North HS) didn't race today, but we're excited to get her back as soon as possible. She should be right there with our top few runners."

Also making their collegiate debuts were Leanne Townsend (senior, Perry), placing 18th (21:05), Kelsey Tompkins (freshman, Webster City) in 22nd (21:22), Rachelle Tipton (freshman, Newton) 28th (21:45), Chantelle MacVey (sophomore, Newton) 35th (22:11), Mandie Barkley (freshman, Fort Dodge) 38th (22:17), Elizabeth Arensten (freshman, Waukee) 40th (22:23), Heather Shives (freshman, Knoxville) 58th (23:45), Jordan Hohenboken (freshman, Riverdale, Ill., Hillsdale HS) 69th (24:41) and Lucinda Rasmussen (sophomore, Ankeny) placed 77th (25:54).

"It was exciting to see so many new faces in Central uniforms," Bovee said. "Really, it was the start of a new era in Central cross country."

Wolf leads men - Adam Wolf (senior, Corning) finished first among four-year college competitors in 19:26 with Brian Respeliers (senior, Council Bluffs, St. Albert HS) ninth (20:23) and Brett Jones (senior, Knoxville) following in 11th (20:31). Teddy Clark (sophomore, Oswego , Ill. ), Jaron Byrum (sophomore, Mount Union, New London HS) and Pierre Taylor (freshman, Oswego, Ill.) all claimed their first varsity finishes in their fall debuts, coming in 13th (20:37), 17th (20:51) and 24th (21:03), respectively. Brett Dietrich (junior, Williamsburg ) was 23rd (21:12), Andy Green (junior, Cherokee) 39th (21:52), Derrick Padovich (freshman, Oswego , Ill. ) 44th (22:00), Brandon Williams (sophomore, Coralville, Iowa Mennonite HS) 45th (22:03) and James Armstead (sophomore, Greenfield , Nodaway Valley HS) 53rd (22:23).

"We have a solid effort today," said Bovee. "Teddy (Clark) and Jaron (Byrum) ran a heck of a race. That gave us a big boost. Seeing Brett Dietrich finish varsity was nice after a battling an injury this summer. We ran without Joe Jefferson (senior, Decorah) and Chase Ungs (senior, Ames, Gilbert HS), so they'll help us out when they get back." Both squads compete next Saturday at Grinnell College 's Les Duke Invitational.