Grace Runners Overcome Injuries To Place Well
September 24, 2016 at 6:38 a.m.
Grace Runners Overcome Injuries To Place Well
By Josh Neuhart-
The men’s team finished sixth out of 31 teams, and the women’s team was fifth out of 26 squads. Both races had over 200 runners competing, and the men’s race topped 300 participants. Grace competed in the Gold Division of the meet.
The Lancers had several key members sit out the race for various reasons. Three of Grace’s top seven women’s runners were out, and two of the typical top-five men’s runners were also sidelined on Friday.
The men’s team had three runners finish in the top 50. Ben Rankin paced the Lancers in 20th place in a time of 27:38, and Joel Bertelsen was three spots behind him in 27:51. Hunter Reed finished 41st for Grace in 28:20.
Sam Hall and Brandon Smith rounded out Grace’s top-five runners.
On the women’s side, Emma Mitchell’s strong year continued as the team’s top finisher. She finished in 25th place in a time of 25:25. Brooke Smith was not far behind at 25:32 for 30th place.
McCalah Mast and Jessica Zvers finished 11 seconds apart, and Karla Singer was fifth for Grace when she crossed the finish line in 26:40.
“The women ran the NCAA distance of 6k, so it was a different experience for them. They handled it well and actually improved their placing the second half of the race,” said Grace coach Jeff Raymond. “The men got off to a great start and put themselves in a good position early in the race. The heat played a factor late in the race, but I'm encouraged by some improvements I saw.”
The Lancers will be back in action Oct. 7 for the Bethel Invitational.
The men’s team finished sixth out of 31 teams, and the women’s team was fifth out of 26 squads. Both races had over 200 runners competing, and the men’s race topped 300 participants. Grace competed in the Gold Division of the meet.
The Lancers had several key members sit out the race for various reasons. Three of Grace’s top seven women’s runners were out, and two of the typical top-five men’s runners were also sidelined on Friday.
The men’s team had three runners finish in the top 50. Ben Rankin paced the Lancers in 20th place in a time of 27:38, and Joel Bertelsen was three spots behind him in 27:51. Hunter Reed finished 41st for Grace in 28:20.
Sam Hall and Brandon Smith rounded out Grace’s top-five runners.
On the women’s side, Emma Mitchell’s strong year continued as the team’s top finisher. She finished in 25th place in a time of 25:25. Brooke Smith was not far behind at 25:32 for 30th place.
McCalah Mast and Jessica Zvers finished 11 seconds apart, and Karla Singer was fifth for Grace when she crossed the finish line in 26:40.
“The women ran the NCAA distance of 6k, so it was a different experience for them. They handled it well and actually improved their placing the second half of the race,” said Grace coach Jeff Raymond. “The men got off to a great start and put themselves in a good position early in the race. The heat played a factor late in the race, but I'm encouraged by some improvements I saw.”
The Lancers will be back in action Oct. 7 for the Bethel Invitational.
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