Southwestern College Collegian

Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Courtesy photo Justin Joslyn, business freshman, Chase Kuchera, business freshman, Andrew Topham, biology freshman, Jordy Train, math education freshman, Aric Cherry, communication junior, Daniel Joiner, business senior, Brandon Smith, liberal arts senior, Drew Logsdon, communication senior, Jess Eberle, marine biology junior, Zach Conroy, business sophomore, Jimmy Bryant, business sophomore, Daniel Tabor, business sophomore, Kyle Luttgeharm, biology freshman and Coach Jim Helmer celebrate their Region IV Championship. The men were first out of nine teams competing, and the win qualified them for nationals.

It is time for nationals. The cross country team will be competing at the NAIA cross country meet Nov. 17 in Kenosha, Wis. "My goal was for both teams to make it to nationals, and they did just what I expected," said Jim Helmer, cross country coach. Helmer was named "Coach of the Year" for the men's team.

The top seven qualifiers from the men's team will be going to Kenosha. Audry Anderson, psychology senior, and Ericka Franklin, biology junior, of the women's team will be competing as well.

At the NAIA Region IV meet last weekend in Omaha, Neb., the men's team came placed first out of nine teams. The women's team placed second out of 13 teams.

The men's team was highly favored going into the meet, and they made their expected outcome.

"I ran my fastest race," said Zack Conroy, business marketing sophomore, whose time was 27.08.

The men's team had six out of the top nine finishers. Eight of the 15 finishers for the All Region IV performers were from the men's team also.

The women's team was up against Park University, who is ranked 20th in the nation. "Realistically we did as well as we could, we were up against an outstanding team," said Helmer.

Continued...

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