Jeremy Doherty and Walker Eye finished third and fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference meet in the 8K, and Diana Ainsley and Laura Kennedy were both in the top 10 in the womens 5K, as all four were named All-Missouri Valley Conference at the conference meet in Ankeny, Iowa.
Doherty (24:26) and Eye (24:33) each clocked new personal best, as they led the mens team to a fourth place tie. Ainsleys fourth place finish (17:38) along with Kennedys (17:58) eighth place finish helped the womens squad to a for third.
The meet was held at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny, Iowa, and was hosted by the Drake Bulldogs
Northern Iowa won the mens conference championship, while Indiana State took home first place honors on the womens side. Brent Wilberts of Drake was the top male finisher (24:05), while Jessica Crowder of Indiana State was first for the women (17:09).
Our four kids that made all conference really ran outstanding races today, said Illinois State cross country coach Chris Bailey. All four of them ran the best times of their lives, and there was no better day to do that than today.
On the mens side, Doherty and Eye were followed by Greg Baker, who ran a personal best with a time of 25:18. Rounding out the mens side were Allan Kipchoge (32, 25:24), Dan Tripp (36, 25:30), Mike Estlund (51, 26:00) and Nate Swartzendruber (57, 26:17).
Overall I was a little disappointed with how we ended up on the mens side, said Bailey. I thought we were a top three team heading into today, but you just have to take your hat off to those teams that finished in front of us. They ran very well today.
For the women, Leah Smith had the third best time following Ainsley and Kennedy, as she finished 15th with a time of 18:20. Other Illinois State women in action were Jen Klostermann (41, 19:27), Lauren Ritt (45, 19:38), Liz Callham (51, 19:56) and Maureen Nelligan (54, 20:03).
We ran into some tough luck in the womens race today, said Bailey. Diana did exactly what we asked her to do and more, as did Laura and Leah. Jen was dealing with some cramping in her calf, otherwise shes a top 15 performer in this conference. That stuff happens though, once again, you just have to congratulate those who finished above you.
The Redbirds will now have two weeks to prepare for the NCAA Midwest Regionals, which will be held November 15 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Oklahoma State will serve as the host school.
