LEWISTON, Idaho – With nine of its runners finishing in the top 14, the Lewis-Clark State College women’s cross country team blew away the competition at the LCSC Invitational on a sunny Saturday at Hells Gate State Park. Spokane Falls Community College edged out the Warriors by only one point to take the title on the men’s side.
For the Warrior women it was all about senior leadership and running as a team.
“I challenged the women before the race today, and told them we haven’t put together a good team race so far this season,” said LCSC head coach Mike Collins. “I don’t know if that’s what sparked them or not, but whatever it was, they ran really well.”
In what was the final Frontier Conference meet of the regular season, LCSC finished 42 points ahead of second-place finisher Spokane Falls, and 67 points ahead of third-place finisher and conference foe Carroll College. The Warriors’ next race will be the conference championship in Salt Lake City on Nov. 6.
“The key to running good races in cross country is packing, and we packed together as a team really well today.”
Leading the pack for LCSC were four-year seniors Kyli Astle and Lindsay Szybura. In their last home cross country meet as Warriors, Astle finished third with a time of 18:06.3 and Szybura claimed fourth with a mark of 18:07.5. Sophomore Kelsey Klettke’s time of 18:13.6 was good enough for fifth.
Amber Watson, of Rocky Mountain College, took the individual title as she finished the course in 17:48.1.
A few seconds meant the difference between first and second in the men’s race, as Spokane Falls’ four finishers in the top ten proved to be just enough to edge out the Warriors which had seven runners in the top 13.
“For the guys, not winning the meet was a little disappointing,” said Collins. “But, to have our top seven guys finish in the top 13—you can’t ask for much more than that.”
“The key to running good races in cross country is packing, and we packed together as a team really well today.”
Leading the pack for LCSC were four-year seniors Kyli Astle and Lindsay Szybura. In their last home cross country meet as Warriors, Astle finished third with a time of 18:06.3 and Szybura claimed fourth with a mark of 18:07.5. Sophomore Kelsey Klettke’s time of 18:13.6 was good enough for fifth.
Amber Watson, of Rocky Mountain College, took the individual title as she finished the course in 17:48.1.
A few seconds meant the difference between first and second in the men’s race, as Spokane Falls’ four finishers in the top ten proved to be just enough to edge out the Warriors which had seven runners in the top 13.
“For the guys, not winning the meet was a little disappointing,” said Collins. “But, to have our top seven guys finish in the top 13—you can’t ask for much more than that.”
The Warriors finished with 32 points which was a point behind Spokane Falls but 50 points ahead of third-place finisher Great Falls.
For the second straight race, junior Jake Miller led the charge for the Warriors. Behind two Spokane Falls runners, including title winner Anthony Brown who finished the course in 25:22.5, Miller claimed third with a time of 25:40.6.“Miller continues to surprise people, and perhaps surprise himself a little bit too,” said Collins. “Now he’s stepping into the role of being an up front runner.”
Eric Tuwei also ran a strong race as he finished in fifth at 26:02.7. Grant Eldridge and Dave Marks claimed fifth and sixth with times of 26:04.2 and 26:12.5, respectively.
“We ran this year as a team almost two minutes faster than last year’s team, so that’s real encouraging,” said Collins. “Spokane Falls just put it all together today. They have a quality program with quality coaching.”
Eric Tuwei also ran a strong race as he finished in fifth at 26:02.7. Grant Eldridge and Dave Marks claimed fifth and sixth with times of 26:04.2 and 26:12.5, respectively.
“We ran this year as a team almost two minutes faster than last year’s team, so that’s real encouraging,” said Collins. “Spokane Falls just put it all together today. They have a quality program with quality coaching.”
WOMEN’S RESULTS
Team Scores – 1, Lewis-Clark State 20. 2, Spokane Falls CC 62. 3, Carroll College 87. 4, Great Falls 94. 5, Rocky Mountain 100. 6, Flathead Valley CC 185.
Overall Winner – Amber Watson, Rocky Mountain, 17:48.1.
LCSC – 3, Kyli Astle 18:06.3. 4, Lindsay Szybura 18:07.5. 5, Kelsey Klettke 18:13.6. 7, Stephanie Shuel 18:46.2. 8, Allie Ford 18:58.1. 11, Tayler Harrington 19:11.6. 12, Madison Randall 19:12.7. 13, Francis Rojas 19:16.1. 14, Chelsey Leighton 19:17.6. 20, Jessie Gulsvig 19:31.2. 25, Whitlee Young 19:39.2. 26, Sheree Barbour 19:39.7. 32, Amy Watkins 20:10.8. 34, Casey Hampton 20:15.1. 57, Tammy Parker 22:02.3.
LCSC – 3, Kyli Astle 18:06.3. 4, Lindsay Szybura 18:07.5. 5, Kelsey Klettke 18:13.6. 7, Stephanie Shuel 18:46.2. 8, Allie Ford 18:58.1. 11, Tayler Harrington 19:11.6. 12, Madison Randall 19:12.7. 13, Francis Rojas 19:16.1. 14, Chelsey Leighton 19:17.6. 20, Jessie Gulsvig 19:31.2. 25, Whitlee Young 19:39.2. 26, Sheree Barbour 19:39.7. 32, Amy Watkins 20:10.8. 34, Casey Hampton 20:15.1. 57, Tammy Parker 22:02.3.
MEN’S RESULTS
Team Scores – 1, Spokane Falls CC 31. 2, Lewis-Clark State 32. 3, Great Falls 82. 4, Rocky Mountain 108. 5, Carroll 133. 6, Flathead Valley CC 190.
Team Scores – 1, Spokane Falls CC 31. 2, Lewis-Clark State 32. 3, Great Falls 82. 4, Rocky Mountain 108. 5, Carroll 133. 6, Flathead Valley CC 190.
Overall Winner – Anthony Brown, Spokane Falls, 25:22.5.
LCSC – 3, Jake Miller 25:40.6. 5, Eric Tuwei 26:02.7. 6, Grant Eldridge 26:04.2. 7, Dave Marks 26:12.5. 11, Sean Huey 26:28.6. 12, Chris McConnell 26:31.5. 13, Josh Shrewsbury 26:34.1. 20, Mickael Testa 26:55.3. 23, Tanner Smedley 27:02.2. 26, Frank Lagrimanta 27:10.8. 37, Tommy Bollinger 28:13.0. 44, Andy Keim 28:35.4. 56, Scott Sweet 29:43.9. 57, Nick Pierson 29:48.9. 58, Conor Thompson 30:01.8. 64, Alex Weber 32:23.5.
For complete results click here
LCSC – 3, Jake Miller 25:40.6. 5, Eric Tuwei 26:02.7. 6, Grant Eldridge 26:04.2. 7, Dave Marks 26:12.5. 11, Sean Huey 26:28.6. 12, Chris McConnell 26:31.5. 13, Josh Shrewsbury 26:34.1. 20, Mickael Testa 26:55.3. 23, Tanner Smedley 27:02.2. 26, Frank Lagrimanta 27:10.8. 37, Tommy Bollinger 28:13.0. 44, Andy Keim 28:35.4. 56, Scott Sweet 29:43.9. 57, Nick Pierson 29:48.9. 58, Conor Thompson 30:01.8. 64, Alex Weber 32:23.5.
For complete results click here
