WPU Opens 2014 at Simpson Invite
William Penn University Athletics
Indianola–The Statesmen cross country teams hit the trails Friday night as they began their 2014 campaigns at the Bill Buxton Invitational hosted by Simpson.
The men placed fourth out of six teams with 112 points, while Loras dominated the race with 15 points (first ten runners to finish were from Loras). The women claimed sixth place out of seven squads with 164 points, while the Duhawks took home the female crown as well with 34 points.
Sam Whan was the men’s 6K winner in a time of 20:08.6, while Maggie Saenz-Ruiz (also of Loras) guided the 4K field in a time of 15:55.4.
Yonas Desta (So., Salt Lake City, Utah) topped WPU in the men’s race by finishing 17th (out of 72 competitors) in a time of 21:39.4, while Ochaung Akway (Sr., St. Paul, Minn.) just missed the top 20 (21st), crossing the line in 22:08.4.
Saromo Mugisha (Sr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Business Management) was 40th (23:04.8), while Zach Johnson (Fr., Decatur, Ill.) was close behind in 42nd (23:21.2). Nick Thomas (Sr., Salmon, Idaho, Physical Education) wrapped up the team scoring in 49th (23:52.4).
Also in action were Tyler Weems (Fr., Trenton, Texas) (52nd, 24:05.4), Garrett Heckman (Fr., New Virginia, Iowa) (55th, 24:28.1), Carlos Lizama (So., Victorville, Calif., Undecided) (58th, 24:55.9), Jeremy Mooney (So., Clinton, Iowa, Physical Education) (68th, 26:45.5), and Paul Walker (Fr., Utah) (71st, 28:39.0).
The women were headed by Addison Kepner (Jr., Cincinnati, Iowa, Biology), who was just outside the top 20 in 21st place (out of 80) at 18:18.0. A 33rd-place finish (19:04.8) came from Deja Lewis (So., Spring, Texas, Psychology), and Lilly Walters (So., Boerne, Texas, Exercise Science) ended her day in 58th (20:41.1).
Cindy Walker (Jr., New Sharon, Iowa, Public Accounting), in 74th (23:14.3), and Elizabeth Boyd (So., Windsor Heights, Iowa, Business Management), in 78th (25:33.5), rounded out WPU’s scoring.
Next Up–William Penn travels to Sioux Falls, S.D. next Friday to compete in the Augustana Twilight.
