November 16, 2009

Women’s cross country team ties program’s highest national finish

With Robin Ray capping a brilliant season by being named an NJCAA All-American, and two other Lady Tiger runners earning Coaches Association All-American honors, the Cowley College women’s cross country team placed fourth out of 35 teams at the NJCAA Division I National Championships held Saturday in Peoria, IL.

Central Arizona won the national championship by finishing 31 team points better than runner-up Iowa Central Community College. South Plains Community College finished third, 12 points ahead of the Lady Tigers.

The fourth place finish tied the program’s highest ever national finish as Cowley also placed fourth in 2006.

“In July I never would have expected this, I was just happy to have a full women’s team,” Cowley head coach Vince DeGrado said. “It has been so much fun to work with this team, they have done everything I have asked.”

Ray was the first American to finish the race as she placed seventh with a time of 18:20. Ray has left her mark on the Cowley program as her time of 18:20 was the second fastest time in school history.

“That was really cool for Robin,” DeGrado said. “Other schools there didn’t know who that was running near the front, but we all knew. She stepped up at each meet this season.”

Sophomore Cecilia Burley placed 21st with a time of 19:07. Burley’s time was the sixth fastest in the program’s history as she earned Coaches Association All-American honors.

“Battling an injury, Cecilia could have very easily given up,” DeGrado said. “She ran through the injury and never gave up, which shows a lot about her dedication and how driven she was.”

Freshmen Leigh Ann Omarkhail (19:34) and Val Bland (19:44) placed 35th and 44th, respectively. Omarkhail earned Coaches Association All-American honors as she placed among the top-25 American born runners.

“Leigh Ann worked real hard this summer and has earned everything she has gotten,” DeGrado said. “Leigh Ann and Val will be even better next season.”

Lady Tiger runners Bailey Hawkins (20:35) and Marvia Lewin (20:36) placed 86th and 88th, respectively. While, Elly Adamson rounded out Cowley runners by placing 107th with a time of 20:55.

There were 262 runners in the women’s race. New Mexico Junior College’s Caroline Jepleting won the women’s race with a time of 17:19.

It has been quite a season for the Lady Tigers as along with its fourth place finish at the national championships, Cowley also captured its first ever Region VI Championship, and won the conference title for the first time since 2002.

Cowley will say goodbye to Ray, Burley, Lewin, and Jessica Dyer. However, Omarkhail, Bland, Hawkins and Adamson will return next season with the experience of having competed well at nationals.

“This team really took what we taught them to heart and stepped up every race,” DeGrado said. “We will miss the sophomores but will return a solid team next year.”

Ray, Omarkhail, and Burley will compete at the NJCAA Half Marathon Classic held Saturday, Nov. 22 in Overland Park.

Top-10 team scores:
(1) Central Arizona, 92; (2) Iowa Central, 123; (3) South Plains, 164; (4) Cowley, 176; (5) El Paso, 196; (6) Pima, 207; (7) Rend Lake, 227; (8) Lansing, 236; (9) Mesa, 243; (10) Illinois Central College, 318.