Staff Report
PEORIA, Ill. — In just their first year of existence, both the Lon Morris College men’s and women’s cross country squads qualified for and participated in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I National Championship Meet, staged in Peoria, Ill., last Saturday.
The Bearcats represented themselves well by finishing 27th out of 35 teams entered.
Rend Lake took first in the team standings with 66 points, followed by Paradise Valley (68) and Garden City Community College (101).
Laquadium Foreman led the ‘Cats to the wire in a time of 28:11 (107).
Stephen Sambu of Rend Lake won the run in a time of 24 flat.
Other Bearcats competing and their respective placings were Timo Grunland (144), Steven Marshall (202), Cody Williams (212), Scottie Agnew (214), Chad Nelson (235) and David Muskiet (237). Two hundred and fifty-nine runners contested the title.
On the women’s side, Central Arizona took first place with 92 points, Iowa Central CC came in second (123) and South Plains, Texas. wrapped up third place, with 164 points.
The Lady Bearcats ended the day in 34th place, finishing ahead of Carl Sandburg College.
New Mexico JC’s Caroline Jepleting was the top finisher (17:19).
Rachel Nesloney was the first Lady Bearcat to cross the line. Nesloney clocked a 22:35 (192).
Also running for the Green and White were Estefani Castro, Sharne Glover, Kelsey Luce and Amisha Standley.
Two hundred and sixty-two ladies ran in the race.
LMC head coach, Kent Willis, said he was pleased with his team’s effort and that he felt like the squad had established a solid starting point for future LMC teams to build upon.
“I thought our men and women competed well and continued to lay the foundation for what will be one of the nation’s best JUCO cross country programs in the near future,” Willis said. “(Saturday) we learned what to expect next year and I am confident that we will be able to make great strides from what we did this year and what we will do next year.”
Willis went on to say he anticipates signing a strong recruiting class on Dec. 1 and that he and the team were thankful for the support they have received from the Jacksonville community this year.
