Cross Country News Releases
Jagielo is Cornell's top individual finisher in 26th place
Coming up - The Rams compete at the NCAA Central Region Championships Saturday, Nov. 14 in Grinnell. The regional is a qualifier for the NCAA Division III Championships Nov. 21 in Cleveland, Ohio.
The top two teams receive automatic bids to nationals with the top five schools eligible for qualification. Individual national berths are awarded to the top seven finishers not on a qualifying team.
Ram review - The junior tandem of Allie Jagielo (Almond, Wis./Tri-County) and Andrea Aerts (David City, Neb./East Butler) paced a young Cornell team at the Iowa Conference Women's Cross Country Championships Saturday at Max Cross Country Course in Waverly.
The Rams, whose starting seven featured three juniors and four freshmen, placed sixth in the team race for the second year in a row. Cornell totaled 179 points.
"To repeat our conference position from last year despite graduating our 1-2-3 runners is a testament to the hard work and focus our women have had all season," Cornell head coach Dan Schofer said. "Our four juniors all had their best-ever conference finishes, and they all have reason to be proud."
Jagielo led the Rams with a 26th-place finish. She completed the six-kilometer course in 24 minutes, 30 seconds. Aerts turned in a season-best time of 24:55 and placed 37th in the 132-woman field. Both were vying for all-conference honors, awarded to the top 15 individual finishers.
"Allie mixed it up for a spot in the top 15, but just didn't quite have it during the last half mile. I expect she'll rebound well for a strong race at the region meet like she has done in the past," Schofer said. "Andrea ran her best race of the season and is coming on at the right time."
Freshman Leslie Smebak (Roseau, Minn./Roseau) and junior Ellie Hutchison (Greeley, Colo./Greeley Central) finished in 62nd (25:51) and 63rd (25:53), respectively. Freshman Elise Mead (Andover, Minn./Andover), Cornell's fifth and final scorer, placed 71st in 26:07.
Freshmen Lauren Seeman (West Des Moines/Valley) and Amber Lanza (Gladbrook/Tilton) came in 80th and 83rd. Junior Allison Newman (Arvada, Colo./Pomona) was 92nd.
"We have a very young team this fall, but this is a great group," Schofer said. "Our focus all along has been patience and good habits in terms of work ethic and discipline. We'll be ready for an even better race at regionals."
Wartburg repeated as conference team champion with 39 points, followed by Luther with 56. Wartburg's Anna Kraayenbrink, the 2008 runner-up, posted a winning time of 22:49.
Iowa Conference Championships (Oct. 31, Max Cross Country Course, Waverly)
Final Women's Standings - 1. Wartburg 39, 2. Luther 56, 3. Central 73, 4. Simpson 87, 5. Loras 110, 6. Cornell 179, 7. Dubuque 207, 8. Coe 227.
Cornell Runners (6 kilometers) - 26. Allie Jagielo 24:30, 37. Andrea Aerts 24:55, 62. Leslie Smebak 25:51, 63. Ellie Hutchison 25:53, 71. Elise Mead 26:07, 80. Lauren Seemann 26:30, 83. Amber Lanza 26:35, 92. Allison Newman 26:57, 95. Laura Lindsay 27:10.
