For the sixth year in a row, both the ICC men’s and women’s cross country teams will be competing in the national meet, being held this year on Saturday, November 8 in Spartanburg, SC. Both teams are coming off second place finishes at the Regional meet, the men behind top top-ranked Rend Lake College and the women behind fourth-ranked Rend.
Both teams will be relatively inexperienced at the national level. Sophomore Billy Miller of Metamora is the only male runner to have run last year, finishing in 82nd place. Darci Knapp of Eureka in the only female with nationals experience, finishing last year in 127th place.
Miller and freshman Shane Leiby of East Peoria lead this year’s men’s team. Leiby led the men at regionals with a seventh place finish. Miller was the early season team leader, but ran into some mid-season injury difficulties. He now appears to be back at full strength and both he and Leiby should be battling for All-American finishes. Behind these two, the team is deep and talented. Frederick Kiprono of Kenya has firmly established himself in the number 3 position and is improving weekly. Sophomore Michael Donini of Henry has been battling leg problems, but has remained in the number 4 spot, ahead of freshman Robert Deatherage of Washington, who has moved up from the number 8 position in the last month. Cory Shoopman of Metamora, Kyle Lueken and Matt McKinney, both from Limestone high school, give the team great depth. Going into nationals we rank 17th and look to improve greatly on last year’s 25th place finish.
The women’s team this year has also been dominated by freshmen. The lone sophomore, Knapp, is coming off of an injury but should be ready to run at nationals. The team leader this year has been freshman Brittany Carius of Morton. She set a school record for the 6 km distance this year and came within 2 seconds of the 5 km record in her 3rd place finish at regionals. The time ranks 16th on this year’s NJCAA performance list. Brit is capably backed by fellow freshmen Bonni Martin of Eureka and Alyssa Imig of Tremont. Martin claimed the 4th best ICC 5 km time at regionals while Imig moved into the number 8 spot. All three have a good chance of attaining All-American status at this year’s national meet. Carrie Bunting of Washington, Olivia Coker of Peoria Richwoods, and Elizabeth Isbell of Elmwood, all freshmen, have been capably holding down the number 3 through 6 positions. Strong finishes by them should help the team to improve on last year’s 16th place finish. The team is currently ranked in the 12th spot.
The national meet is hosted by Spartanburg Methodist College. Race times are 10:00 (women) and 11:00 (men). ICC will be hosting the meet at Newman Golf Course in 2009.
Both teams will be relatively inexperienced at the national level. Sophomore Billy Miller of Metamora is the only male runner to have run last year, finishing in 82nd place. Darci Knapp of Eureka in the only female with nationals experience, finishing last year in 127th place.
Miller and freshman Shane Leiby of East Peoria lead this year’s men’s team. Leiby led the men at regionals with a seventh place finish. Miller was the early season team leader, but ran into some mid-season injury difficulties. He now appears to be back at full strength and both he and Leiby should be battling for All-American finishes. Behind these two, the team is deep and talented. Frederick Kiprono of Kenya has firmly established himself in the number 3 position and is improving weekly. Sophomore Michael Donini of Henry has been battling leg problems, but has remained in the number 4 spot, ahead of freshman Robert Deatherage of Washington, who has moved up from the number 8 position in the last month. Cory Shoopman of Metamora, Kyle Lueken and Matt McKinney, both from Limestone high school, give the team great depth. Going into nationals we rank 17th and look to improve greatly on last year’s 25th place finish.
The women’s team this year has also been dominated by freshmen. The lone sophomore, Knapp, is coming off of an injury but should be ready to run at nationals. The team leader this year has been freshman Brittany Carius of Morton. She set a school record for the 6 km distance this year and came within 2 seconds of the 5 km record in her 3rd place finish at regionals. The time ranks 16th on this year’s NJCAA performance list. Brit is capably backed by fellow freshmen Bonni Martin of Eureka and Alyssa Imig of Tremont. Martin claimed the 4th best ICC 5 km time at regionals while Imig moved into the number 8 spot. All three have a good chance of attaining All-American status at this year’s national meet. Carrie Bunting of Washington, Olivia Coker of Peoria Richwoods, and Elizabeth Isbell of Elmwood, all freshmen, have been capably holding down the number 3 through 6 positions. Strong finishes by them should help the team to improve on last year’s 16th place finish. The team is currently ranked in the 12th spot.
The national meet is hosted by Spartanburg Methodist College. Race times are 10:00 (women) and 11:00 (men). ICC will be hosting the meet at Newman Golf Course in 2009.
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