Ashland, Neb. – The smell of great competition was in the air as the Pioneers of MidAmerica Nazarene took to the moderate cross country course of Mahoney State Park in Nebraska on a crisp fall morning. The temperatures were in the low 50s, with little to no breeze, on a cloudy day. Based on studies, these were ideal temperatures for a collegiate cross country race. The competition was also of high caliber in this NAIA only meet with seven nationally ranked teams and another nine garnering votes. With over 600 competitors in two races, this would be a day for great times. The Pioneers were locked in and ready to perform.
The Pioneer women:
Bella Meili,
Anna McKnight,
Riley J. Filmore,
Julia Swearengin,
Lana Smittick,
Gracie Enochs,
Josie McClung, and
Kennedy Krotzinger; were undaunted by the competition as they got out quickly, ready to show they had the strength to compete with some of the top in the nation. Within the first 1,000 meters, the Pioneers were in the top 15, behind two Heart of America Conference teams which were ranked or received votes in the polls, but ahead of four conference foes including Baker who has beaten them once.
By mile two, William Woods had slipped by the Pioneers as they moved up the team scoring. The Pioneers continued their fight with Meili leading the charge. After two miles, they had a convincing lead over Baker University while they fought to hold on after a fast start. After 5,000 meters (5k), the Pioneers slid into the 17th spot with several in position to set personal bests. Four of the eight went through the 5k faster than they had throughout their collegiate career.
After a great display of downhill technique in the final 1,000Â meters before an uphill finish, the Pioneers claimed the 17th team position as Meili, McKnight, Filmore, Swearengin, and Enochs all set 6k personal bests. In doing so, they also avenged their losses over Baker University and Cottey College.
Following the women, the men of MNU;
Ray Kosgei,
Aidan Scherman,
Jacob Hendrickson,
Ken Morgan,
Patrick Jacobs,
Josiah Robinson,
Jackson Elsey,
Brenton King, and
Colin Baker; toed the line to take advantage of the great conditions. For some, it would be their first 8,000 meter (8k) race of the season. Like their female counterparts, the Pioneers got out quickly in the first mile, hovering in the top 20 teams. Three conference foes, two of which received votes in the NAIA polls, led the Pioneers and two trailed.
In mile two, the patient athletes started their moves as they all flew past the mile markers. It was a stampede of competitors with the Pioneers holding their own. Six of the nine Pioneers had moved up through the crowd as they cruised down the hill after the two mile marker. However, for the scoring five, it was a mix of movement, as the Pioneers held onto the top 20 team designation.
Five thousand meters into the race, the Pioneers had a tough battle on their hands with conference opponents William Woods and Baker. Williams Woods had just moved into the 20th place with MNU sandwiched between them and Baker. The Pioneers slipped out of the top twenty but were only two points behind William Woods.
In the last 3k of the 8k race, the Pioneers went back to work and reclaimed the 20th spot. They did not catch William Woods, but instead they took advantage of a struggling Friends University team which dropped three places. The Pioneers also beat Baker for the first time this season. While doing so, six Pioneers claimed seasonal or personal bests: Kosgei, Scherman, Morgan, Jacobs, Robinson, and King.
With only two weeks before conference, both the women and men of MidAmerica Nazarene are headed in the right direction, claiming eleven seasonal bests at the Blazing Tiger Classic.
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