Women’s cross-country had a successful final race of the regular season on Oct. 25, winning the Choctaw DII Challenge at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi. This is the third first place ranking for the 2014 season.
The team time was 1:35:37, breaking a speed record set earlier in the semester at the Greater Louisville Classic. The last record was set in 2006.
Team times are determined by combining the top five runners’ times.
“This group is not focused on records, but it is a good reflection of how well they are running to be able to lower it twice in one season,” head coach Gary Johnson said.
Union’s top five runners placed in the top ten, more than any school participating in the event. In addition, five out of seven runners ran their best times of the season.
Placing third in the race, the highest ranking that a Union runner placed, was Janey Berends, freshman undecided major from Hudsonville, Michigan. Berends had a time of 18:26.
After Berends, Audrey Hazlehurst, senior pre-professional studies major, placed fourth with a time of 18:57. Abby Berends, freshman undecided major, placed sixth with a time of 19:06. Lindsey Jakeman, sophomore business major, placed seventh with a time of 19:12. BethAnne Davis, junior nursing major, placed ninth with a time of 19:25.
“I love the dynamic on our team because we don’t always have the same top runners,” Berends said. “It is great having that group of girls right around the same speed because we can all encourage each other.”
Other schools participating in the race were University of North Alabama, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Shorter University and Mississippi College. The top five schools are all a part of the Gulf South Conference.
“It is motivating to be in the NCAA because it is a big change for the school,” Berends said, “we want to help bring success to the school. It is motivating.”
After this win, the team is headed to the Gulf South Conference Championship on Saturday Nov. 8 in Birmingham, Alabama.
“This team certainly has the ability to win the conference meet and we would be proud to represent Union in that way,” Johnson said. “This group has been committed to running to honor God with the gift they have been given and I believe that adds a bit of confidence to what we are trying to accomplish together.”
