2008 Woodie Awards
Runners jump run through creeks to finish line
By: Tiffany Kleekamp
Issue date: 10/6/05 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The cross-country team experienced something completely new Oct. 1. The team jumped over stacks of logs, bales of hay and ran through creeks. Now, this doesn't seem that out of the ordinary, but when all those elements are incorporated in a race, things can get crazy.
The team traveled to Beloit, Wis., to the Old English Classic in hopes of running a fun race. Head coach Chris Bunch heard from other coaches that the race was a lot of fun, so he was hoping his team would experience the same. The only runner who had any difficulties with the new obstacles was freshman Chelsea Zotta, who slipped while running through a creek. Zotta was not injured, however.
Webster placed 13 out of 14 teams and Bunch said the team could have placed much higher, had Freshman Kari Neulist run.
Neulist has been out for about a month because of a sprained ankle. She thought it healed and ran on it about two weeks ago, but hurt it again at practice last week. Neulist practiced Oct. 4 and should be able to run in the Oct. 8 race. Although Bunch said it is critical to get Neulist back, he was not completely disappointed in the race, especially since it was the first time Webster had run a race of this kind.
"It's hard to say that we didn't do well," Bunch said. "Three of our five runners ran their best times this season."
Those three runners were Zotta, senior Lori Sherrill and freshman Chrystie Walters.
"I actually thought the race was a lot easier than others because there weren't as many hills, but it was hard because of the hay stacks and puddles," Walters said.
Bunch expected all the times to be lower because of the obstacles, but the runners proved him wrong and he was pleased with their times. Senior Prisca Rice ran a 23:54 5K race; Walters, 24:00; Zotta, 25:36; senior Linda Golden, 25:16; and senior Lori Sherrill, 27:35.
Oct. 8 the team will run in the 5K Border States Invitational at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. The seniors have run this course three times and the rest of the team has run it at least twice. Bunch anticipates time improvements because knowing the course presents a huge advantage.
"This will be our last 5K race of the year," Bunch said. "I am hopeful that we will have everyone healthy, that Prisca (Rice) will get her times down and that Chrystie will get her time below 24 minutes."
Those wishes are not too far fetched since Rice has improved with every race and Walters improved by 39 seconds this week and ran her best race of the season Oct. 1.
The team traveled to Beloit, Wis., to the Old English Classic in hopes of running a fun race. Head coach Chris Bunch heard from other coaches that the race was a lot of fun, so he was hoping his team would experience the same. The only runner who had any difficulties with the new obstacles was freshman Chelsea Zotta, who slipped while running through a creek. Zotta was not injured, however.
Webster placed 13 out of 14 teams and Bunch said the team could have placed much higher, had Freshman Kari Neulist run.
Neulist has been out for about a month because of a sprained ankle. She thought it healed and ran on it about two weeks ago, but hurt it again at practice last week. Neulist practiced Oct. 4 and should be able to run in the Oct. 8 race. Although Bunch said it is critical to get Neulist back, he was not completely disappointed in the race, especially since it was the first time Webster had run a race of this kind.
"It's hard to say that we didn't do well," Bunch said. "Three of our five runners ran their best times this season."
Those three runners were Zotta, senior Lori Sherrill and freshman Chrystie Walters.
"I actually thought the race was a lot easier than others because there weren't as many hills, but it was hard because of the hay stacks and puddles," Walters said.
Bunch expected all the times to be lower because of the obstacles, but the runners proved him wrong and he was pleased with their times. Senior Prisca Rice ran a 23:54 5K race; Walters, 24:00; Zotta, 25:36; senior Linda Golden, 25:16; and senior Lori Sherrill, 27:35.
Oct. 8 the team will run in the 5K Border States Invitational at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. The seniors have run this course three times and the rest of the team has run it at least twice. Bunch anticipates time improvements because knowing the course presents a huge advantage.
"This will be our last 5K race of the year," Bunch said. "I am hopeful that we will have everyone healthy, that Prisca (Rice) will get her times down and that Chrystie will get her time below 24 minutes."
Those wishes are not too far fetched since Rice has improved with every race and Walters improved by 39 seconds this week and ran her best race of the season Oct. 1.