DREW SHRADEL STAFF WRITER
The women’s cross country team finished fifth overall at the Jim Drewes/Tori Neubauer Invitational in LaCrosse, Wisc. on Saturday.
Anna Kraayenbrink led the women with an individual title. She finished the race with a time of 21:43.
“Seeing Anna winning the race was just great,” head coach Steve Johnson said. “There were some Div. I schools there and many All-Americans, so it was a really good race for Anna.”
Jennifer and Amanda Kuiken finished 24th and 26th with times of 22:41 and 22:44.
Next to finish was Lori Tlach who finished 39th with a time of 23:09.
Brendelyn White rounded out the top five for the team, finishing 64th with a time of 23:35.
“The performances were not spectacular, but to finish fifth overall at this meet was very good,” Johnson said.
The Knights finished with 154 points.
No. 4-ranked University of Wisconsin Eau Claire won the meet with 51 points.
The men’s team finished in 17th at the meet.
Matt Moore and Jon Stover, the top two finishers, finished one-two on the team once again.
Moore and Stover both finished with a time of 26:08, placing them 48th and 49th respectively.
“Jon and Matt ran great, just like they have been all year long,” Johnson said. “ Both of them are putting themselves into a national qualifying position.”
The rest of the men’s team was closed out, except Sam Sturtz, who finished in 88th with a time of 26:37.
Jon Sturm finished 114th with a time of 27:01.
Logan Swarts finished with a time of 27:20, good enough for 131st.
“The packs ran really well, but the second pack did not get out very well and spent too much time passing,” Johnson said. “We could have probably cut our score 50 to 80 points.”
The men finished with a score of 430 points.
The University of Wisconsin won the meet with a score of 32 points.
Both teams will have the next week off as they prepare for the conference meet.
Wartburg will host the IIAC conference meet in two weeks on Oct. 31. Races are set for 11 a.m.