TABOR COLLEGE: Lady 'Jays finish as runner-up
Jost, Patton take
third, fourth places
Like the saying goes, there's always a first time for everything.
Saturday at the KCAC championship cross country meet at Bill Burke Park in Salina, it was the Lady Bluejays recording their highest-ever finish in the league meet.
The Lady Bluejays took second place overall, 29 points in back of the Southwestern Lady Moundbuilders for the top spot.
Three runners, finished in the top 15 for both men's and women's classes, enough to earn all-conference honors based on Saturday's performance.
Tabor cross country coach Karol Hunt was also named the KCAC women's cross country coach of the year.
"This was really exciting for the women's program because second is our highest finish ever at the conference meet," Hunt said. "Having runners who can place high in meets as well as having depth is the key to competing well at the conference meet."
Paving the way for the women was Angie Jost, who took third in 19:54.
Karen Patton came in fourth place at 20:27, rounding out the women's conference honors.
It was a near-miss for Emily Aldis, who missed earning conference honors by one place, taking 16th in 22:03.
Tia Akers suffered a sub-par performance at the Bluejays' second meet of the season Sept. 14 at Colorado College.
Determined to improve her outing in Colorado, Akers progress throughout the season paid off as she finished 17th with a personal record time of 22:28.
Esther Richert was 13 seconds in back of Akers at 23rd. Sarah Frick took 26th in 23:22 with Erin Voth finishing 28th out of 34 runners in 23:50.
Due to a shortage of competitors for the men's team, they were unable to acquire an overall score, also won by the Moundbuilders.
Appearing in his final KCAC race of his career, Kevin Nickel saved his best performance for last.
Nickel's 11th place personal record time of 27:31 was the only Bluejay to be named to the men's team.
"Kevin ran the race of his life today, the best of his four year college career," said Hunt. "His goal all season was to be all conference and he achieved that.
"Kevin's work ethic is among the top runners I have ever coached. It's really satisfying to see him be rewarded for all his patience and effort."
For the first time this season, Ryan Sperling finally eclipsed the 30:00 mark in an eight kilometer race.
Sperling finished 31st in 29:51.
Matt Lynam and Will Higerd came in 44th and 50th in 31:25 and 33:30, respectively.
The Bluejays travel Saturday to Pioneer Park in Lincoln, Nebraska for the Region IV with the women starting at 10:30 a.m. and the men beginning 45:00 later.
The regional meet is what qualifies for the NAIA national meet Nov. 23.
Women's results
3. Jost, 19:54. 4. Patton, 20:27. 16. Aldis, 22:03. 17.Akers, 22:28. 23. Richert, 22:40. 26. Frick, 23:22. 28. Voth, 23:50.
Men
11. Nickel, 27:31. 31. Sperling, 29:51. 44. Lynam, 31:25. 50. Higerd, 33:30.
