MOUNT VERNON, Ill. — Competing at the Midwest Conference Cross Country Championships on Saturday, hosted by Cornell College at Seminole Valley Park, Knox College senior Lance Miller shattered his own school record in the 8K by completing the course in 24:28.7, placing second for the second consecutive year. The top finisher for the Prairie Fire women's team in the 6K was first-year Elsie Conwell in 23:39.9, claiming 34th place.
Led by Miller, the Knox men finished fifth overall in the nine-team field with 155 points, while Lawrence University (34 points) beat out Grinnell College (62) for the title. The host Rams placed third with 95 points and Ripon College fourth ahead of Knox with 107
In the women's race, Grinnell edged out Cornell College, 40-51, with Ripon a close third with 58 points. It was Illinois College (204) that finished just ahead of Knox (221) in the standings.
Only All-American Isaac vanWestrienen of Cornell College could outrun Miller for his second straight MWC title, finishing the race in 23:57.9, while his teammate, Jacob Bach, was 5.5 seconds behind Miller to reach the podium as well. Each of the first four Prairie Fire runners set personal records with sophomore Misha Ratner (26:46.7) crossing the tape in 26th, junior Evan McClusky (26:57.3) not far off Ratner's pace in 30th and senior Elliott Varnum (28:14.6) in 61st. Junior Max Lawrence completed the scoring runners for Knox in 91st place with a season-best time of 30:08.7, and the other five Prairie Fire runners also posted personal-best times.
Like the men, all but one runner for the Knox women posted a personal-best time with the one recording a season best. After Conwell's 23:39.9 — the fifth-fastest 6K time in program history and just 14 seconds shy of the record — junior Cecilia Goodin wrapped up the race in a season-best 24:44.1 (48th) and sophomore Mary Stockdale registered a 26:13.3 (64th). The other scoring runners for the Prairie Fire were senior Eileen Sheetz (26:50.3, 72nd), more than a minute faster than her time last year, and junior Alenis Rios (27:55.0, 82nd). Taking the gold was Linda Dahlman of Cornell College in 21:00.2, nine seconds ahead of Ripon's Joley Berger.
Next up for Knox will be the NCAA Midwest Regional hosted by Wartburg College in two weeks on Saturday, Nov. 15.
