CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Led by newcomer Kellyn Johnson, the Shocker women's cross country team claimed their third-straight Missouri Valley Conference championship in a row, while the men were led by Scott Reed's 18th-place finish to come in sixth as a team. Johnson won the women's individual title to help the Shocker beat Missouri State.
The Shocker women got all-MVC performances from Johnson, Mica Land, and Olivia Martinez to beat the Bears by 11 team points (47-58).
"I am so proud of our teams today," Head Coach Marc Burns said. "Our women just came out with a purpose today, and got the job done. Everybody has been through a lot of ups and downs this season, but they rallied the troops and took pride in their race today."
Johnson led the women's race from start to finish, out-distancing her closest competitor by nearly 21 seconds with a 5K time of 16:59.53. The win came in Johnson's first cross country season as a Shocker. She transferred to WSU from Cloud [Kan.] CCC last January and competed for the Shockers during the outdoor track and field season. Johnson also became just the fourth Shocker in school history to win the women's title. The last to win the MVC was Desiraye Osburn in 2005. The individual title was Johnson's third of the season.
"Kellyn Johnson dominated from the gun today," Burns said. "She ran a smart, strong race and certainly put herself in position to run well at the Regionals and make it to the national meet. Kellyn just came out and set the tone for us today."
Land's all-conference run marks the third year in a row that she has earned the honor. Land (17:29.58) placed third in the championship, beating Missouri State's top two runners, who finished fourth and fifth.
"It was great to see Mica (Land) run her best race ever as a senior," Burns said. "She really led Chelsie (Baldwin) and Olivia (Martinez) through the pack to help us win this today."
Martinez also claimed all-MVC honors with a 10th-place finish, nine spots higher than last year's MVC championships. She finished with a time of 17:49.33, just nine seconds and two spots ahead of teammate Chelsie Baldwin (17:58.41).
"Olivia Martinez ran fantastic today to improve that much since last season," Burns said. "Chelsie (Baldwin) has been through a lot this season and has come a long way. For her to come out her and compete like this is great."
Possibly the biggest surprise came with the Shocker women's fifth runner. On a day that saw Jenna Wood (29th, 18:42.64) and Danielle Walker (38th, 19:00.05) both run personal bests, Jessica Stephens shattered her personal best placing 21st for the Shockers with a time of 18:28.01.
"Jessica Stephens really emerged as someone who will help us in the future," Burns said. "She really ran well today."
The MVC title also marks the seventh time in school history that the Shockers have claimed the women's championship. The Shocker women also won the conference title in back-to-back years in 1987-88, along with 1990, 1997, 1999 before making this year their third straight.
On the men's side, the Shockers battled for every place to finish seven points out of fifth and just four points ahead of eighth as a team. The sixth-place finish came in a tight men's race won by Southern Illinois. SIU runners claimed the top three spots, with Jeff Schirmer claiming top individual honors.
"It was tight on the men's side, real tight," Burns said. "We didn't have a great day but our front five guys fought hard to get
where they did."
Reed led the Shockers, finishing in 18th place with a time of 25:20.94, and Nick Nowak was the Shockers' next runner to cross the finish, placing 25th with a time of 25:31.53.
"Reed didn't feel great
but he worked hard and kept fighting the whole way," Burns said. "Nick Nowak had a PR and one of the races of the day for us. It was exciting to see him have a good race."
Girts Azis, a two-time all-MVC performer, has battled an achilles injury for the past two races, but fought to finish the race in 35th (26:02.84). Freshman Tad Eisenhauer finished just three spots behind Azis in 38th with a personal-best time of 26:09.30. Senior Hector Castaneda rounded out the Shockers' top five with a time of 26:19.93, good for 41st.
"Girts (Azis) and Tad (Eisenhauer) were
hurting the whole way, but they had the gutsiest races of the day," Burns said. "Girts is running
with an achilles tendon injury. I give him a lot of credit for battling, he didn't
give up and knew he had to finish for us. It all added up to being the difference, Hector (Castaneda) ran a 30-second
PR. He stepped up big as our fifth guy that helped us finish ahead of 7th
and 8th, it was a heck of a run and I am really proud of him.
"We have to continue to raise the bar because this conference has
gotten tough and deep. Sixth place is not what we were hoping for, but today it
was the best we could do, and it was a product of our guys working hard from
start to finish. We will be up there in the future."
The Shockers will rest with a week off before traveling to Peoria, Ill., for the NCAA Midwest Region Championships on Sat., Nov. 10.
- Wichita State -
