Ninth-Ranked Trojans Open 2015 with IWU Invite Title
MARION, Ind. – The Taylor University women's cross country team turned in one of the best performances in school history on Friday at Indiana Wesleyan, logging its second-fastest team time and claiming the team title in the season-opening race.
"I am very excited about our start," said sixth-year head coach Quinn White. "When you mix great weather and a flat course, there is a chance for some special times. That was the case tonight, and we were fortunate enough to have over half of our team set personal-best times."
The No. 9 Trojans clocked a time of 93:15 to top the ten-team field, including No. 13 and second-place IWU's time of 94:23. The win was TU's sixth team victory in its last 11 regular season races dating back to the start of the 2013 campaign and bumped sixth-year head coach, Quinn White (372-82), to within two team victories of second-most all-time with the Taylor women's cross country program.
"We ran smart, relaxed and competitive," added White. "I am very proud of this effort and I see it as a great opportunity to gain some confidence. We know we will have ups and downs throughout the season, but it is nice to start with a positive."
All-American Alex Berends picked up where she left off one year ago, lapping the field of 109 competitors for her fifth individual win in six collegiate races. The sophomore ran her fastest time, crossing the line at 17:50.6 to post the second-best mark in TU's history, just one second shy of Lolly York's record set in 2006. Berends' time of 17:50.6 was also the fastest time ever on the IWU course.
Berends had plenty of help, as Taylor showcased its tremendous depth by claiming nine of the top-20 spots in the race. Senior Jane Hawks was next in line, running a personal-best time of 18:33.1 for second place and the eighth-fastest time in program history, while freshman Elizabeth Mae Gimre ripped off the 14th-fastest mark in program history in her first collegiate outing and finished fourth with a time of 18:48.7.
The wave of Purple kept coming in at the front of the pack, with junior Hannah Schroder claiming eighth at 18:55.5 and freshman Rachel Blagg taking 11th with a time of 19:07.9. Sophomore Andi Foster set a new personal-record time of 19:10.1 to end 14th and senior Anissa Richards rounded out TU's top-seven performers with a time of 19:11.2 for 16th place.
Two more Trojan freshmen cracked the top-20, with Michelle Franch finishing 18th at 19:12.1 and Hannah Keyser taking 20th with a mark of 19:15.8.
In all, Taylor claimed nine of the top-20 spots in the individual standings with the well-rounded showing that included four freshmen, two sophomores, one junior and two seniors.
No. 9 Taylor (9-0) will be back in action on Friday, September 18, when it races at the Indiana Intercollegiate in Terre Haute, Indiana. The race is set to begin at 3:15 pm.
