Cross Country Teams Compete at the Northern Athletics Conference Championships
October 31, 2009
Results--Women's 6K
Results--Men's 8K
MEQUON, Wis. – The Maranatha men’s and women’s cross country teams competed at the Northern Athletics Conference Championships on Saturday, Oct. 31. The conference meet was hosted by Concordia University of Wisconsin.
The conditions were not ideal, but the Crusaders ran strong races in spite of the 20 mph winds and the muddy course. The men’s team finished in 8th place, and the women finished in 9th place.
Freshman William O’Malley (Rockford, Ill.) led the men’s team with an 8th place finish and a time of 27:38. O’Malley received all-conference first team honors for his efforts. Senior Peter Struska (Watertown, Wis.) and sophomore Isaiah Steinbart (Hartland, Wis.) finished 48th and 49th at around the 30:00 mark. Junior James Moore (Emporia, Kan.) and sophomore Mason Trumble (Orland, Maine) finished about 2 minutes behind Struska and Steinbart.
Senior Juliana Brahs (Spring Lake Park, Minn.) led the Crusader women’s team with a time of 26:28, good for a 23rd place finish. Brahs was named to the all-conference second team. Freshman Lauren Stephens (Chicago, Ill.) finished 32nd with a time of 27:03, while senior Lori Biastock (Benton Harbor, Mich.) and sophomore Valerie Schultz (Owatonna, Minn.) finished 46th and 47th.
“We had an excellent meet,” Head Coach Lisa Turner said. “I am very excited with how well the teams performed on Saturday. Their times showed me they are still improving and ready to peak at nationals.”
The cross country teams will finish their season in a couple weeks when they travel to Cedarville, Ohio to compete in the NCCAA National Meet hosted by Cedarville University on Saturday, Nov. 14.