Allred Qualifies for Nationals at Conference Championships

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - MNU Cross Country showed out for the Heart of America Conference Championship meet on Friday, hosted by Mount Mercy University. Junior Abigail Allred had a phenomenal race and finished 6th overall. Abigail shattered her previous personal best by almost three minutes, running 22:59 in the 6k race to punch her ticket to nationals. Her time sets the new school record for MNU. Seniors Justine Rahto and Abby Zitter finished out their cross country careers with personal bests as well. Justine placed 19th overall and ran 23:58. Abby placed 32nd with a personal best time of 24:41. Sophomores Gracie Enochs and Sage Adam worked together to round out the 4th and 5th runners for MNU. Olivia Siefker and Leah Taylor also competed for the team. The women placed 6th out of 12 team with 140 points.
 
On the men's side, all nine men ran lifetime best times in the 8k race. The dynamic duo of James Mwihaki and Riley Glassbrenner fought for a top-15 spot the entire race. James grinded it out at the end to place 13th overall, earning All-Conference Honorable Mention. He set a new personal best of 25:50. Riley finished out his career with a new personal best time of 25:57 and 16th place overall. Freshman Ray Kosgei was the third runner for MNU with a time of 27:06. Senior Paul Heddings finished his career with a new personal best of 29:04. Freshman Mathew Banuelos set a new personal best with his time of 29:10. Freshmen Ken Morgan, Jackson Elsey, and Colin Baker also competed for the Pioneers. Every athlete on the women's and men's teams ran a personal best time to complete the season.
 
"We couldn't have asked for a better day for the squads to put their best foot forward and reap the rewards of their long season, said head coach Jared Seckel. "The men and women took advantage of the weather and all sixteen of them walked away with lifetime bests. Both teams averaged close to running two minutes faster than ever before. Though we had been hoping for different outcomes in the team scores, I could not be more pleased and thankful for our young men and women pouring everything they had into their races."
 
MNU Cross Country will continue for two more weeks with Abigail Allred as she prepares for the NAIA National Championships in Vancouver, Washington, on November 17.