Grace Runners Impressive At CLC
MARION – More than two-thirds of the runners from the Grace College men’s and women’s cross country teams posted season-best times on Saturday at the Crossroads League Championships.
Overall, 15 of Grace’s 22 runners ran their fastest races of the year as the men’s team finished in sixth place, and the women’s side placed seventh.
“I’m extremely proud of both teams,” said Grace head coach Jeff Raymond. “The women and men each beat teams today who had finished in front of us earlier this year. We really peaked for this meet.”
Ben Drew paced the men’s team on Saturday with a 19th-place time of 26:33. His finish, which was a personal record by 35 seconds, was just four places away from earning All-League status (top 15 finishers).
Jonathan Rex (27:03) and Tim Trapp (27:37) both earned personal-best times as Grace’s No. 2 and No. 3 runners respectively. Collin Chupp (27:42) was fourth for Grace, and Richie Cornett was fifth in 29:25.
Jamin Parker and Donovan Graham each posted season-best times as well.
“Ben Drew ran a fantastic race today and just missed earning All-League honors,” Raymond said. “Jonathan Rex has cut about 45 seconds off his PR in the past two weeks and is coming on strong, and Tim Trapp ran the fastest race of his career and will keep getting better I think.”
In the women’s race, Jenna McClellan led Grace’s team with a time of 19:49. She bested her previous-best time by 12 seconds and placed 29th in the process.
Freshmen Tara Hamstra (20:09) and Creigh Ogle (20:50) finished second and third for the Lady Lancers in season-best times, and Alexis Nelson was Grace’s No. 4 runner in a time of 20:51.
Marina Ramirez and Rachel Fehring also posted season-best times at the meet. Ramirez was Grace’s No. 5 runner, and Fehring cut more than a minute off her previous best as Grace’s No. 6 runner.
Megan Gast, Allison Zylstra, Georgianne Sandlin, Alicia Hertzler and Madison Long had PR’s for the Lady Lancers, and Marena Lodzinski had a season-best time as well.
“I was glad to see Jenna McClellan break the 20-minute barrier after nearly doing it several times,” Raymond said. “I also have to give recognition to Marina Ramirez and Rachel Fehring. Marina ran her best race of the season, and Rachel was a pleasant surprise today.”
The Lancers will send their top seven runners from each squad to the NCCAA National Championships at Cedarville University on Nov. 10.