Tabor cross-country teams compete at KCAC championships

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN TOM STOPPEL
The Tabor College women’s and men’s cross-country teams placed fourth and fifth in their respective divisions at the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference championships in Winfield.

The host team, Southwestern College, as expected, swept team honors in both the women’s (17 points) and the men’s (23) divisions. Tabor women finished with 88 points and the men 130.

“For both teams, we talked about leaving nothing on the course at the end of our races,” coach Karol Hunt said. “I think we reached that goal.”

For the women, Heidi Schmidt earned All-KCAC honors with a 13th-place finish with a time of 20 minutes, 44 seconds.

Following here were Amber Wiens (20th, 21:07), Bridgette Stevens (22nd, 21:09), Shelby Miller (29th, 22:01), Tiffany Stevens (31st, 22:07), Rebekah Lockhart (40th, 23:16) and Ashley Schmidt (45th, 23:29).

“It was kind of a tough day for the women, (but) we ran our best on this particular day so we have to keep our heads up,” Hunt said. “We ran on the same course two weeks ago and only Amber was able to turn in a quicker time.

“Our team this season has more depth and is stronger than last year’s, but we slipped from second to fourth in the standing,” she added. “That was hard on the team, but it also means our conference is getting more competitive.”

Kyle Larson led the Bluejay men with a 20th-place finish in 29:34. Matt Lynam also broke the 30-minute barrier by placing 25th in 29:59.

“Matt broke 30 minutes for the first time in his four-year career,” Hunt said. “It was really positive for Matt to have that kind of performance in his final conference race.”

Following the two Bluejay leaders were Kevin Larson (28th, 30:18), Richard Gallie (33rd, 30:28), Jeff Anenson (40th, 31:31), Brandon Voth (41st, 31:32), Zac Remboldt (44th, 31:58) and Will Higerd (45th, 32:03).

“For the most part, the men ran really well,” Hunt said. “Three runners turned in personal-best performances and two ran season-best times.”

The PRs were turned in by Gallie, Voth and Higerd while Kyle Larson and Kevin Larson each had season-best times.

“All worked hard for those times,” Hunt said. “I had to feel really badly for Jeff because he was running the race of his life and was in 14th place when stomach cramps caused him to pull off to the side for a couple of minutes.

“He had a time of 23:19 at the four-mile mark and was on pace to finish well below 30 minutes,” she added. “To his credit, he jumped back into the race and finished.”

Coming-Barring some unexpected success, the Bluejays will run their final meet of the season at the regional meet on Saturday at Rolling Acres Golf Course in McPherson. The women run at 10:30 a.m. and the men follow at 11:15 a.m.

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