Vincennes University Cross Country season ends with good showing at Nationals
RICHMOND, Va. – The VU Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams both placed above their respective rankings at the 2021 NJCAA Cross Country National Championships in Richmond Saturday morning. The Trailblazer men’s team, ranked 23rd, placed 19th and the women’s team, ranked 19th, placed 17th. The VU men’s team was paced by Ian Boit who came away with a 75th place finish with a time of 27:15.4.
RICHMOND, Va. – The VU Men's and Women's Cross Country teams both placed above their respective rankings at the 2021 NJCAA Cross Country National Championships in Richmond Saturday morning.
The Trailblazer men's team, ranked 23rd, placed 19th and the women's team, ranked 19th, placed 17th.
The VU men's team was paced by Ian Boit who came away with a 75th place finish with a time of 27:15.4.
Boit was followed by Manamanya Opiew, Reed Lawless and Ernest Momodu. Opiew finished with a time of 27:25.7. Lawless came in at 27:59.6 with Momodu just a second behind at 28:00.6.
Walter Tanui, Tate Hall and Trey Browne rounded out the Trailblazer runners with Tanui coming in with a time of 29:10.8, Hall at 30:13.6 and Browne at 31:13.3.
"It was a beautiful fall day with the temperate in the 60s and some moderate winds at the start of the men's race," VU Assistant Cross Country Coach Tyler Steigenga said. "Ian and Manny beat their personal bests and Reed just missed his by four seconds."
The VU women's team was led by 2020 Honorable Mention All-American Kyra Young, who finished 49th with a time of 20:11.7.
Brittany Page and Kaitlyn Koenig were the next VU runners across the line with Page finishing at 21:12.9 and Koenig ending at 21:49.0.
Hope Laughlin and Kyra Davis finished out the Vincennes runners with Laughlin coming in at 22:38.2 and Davis finishing with a time of 25:41.2.
"The wind really picked up for the women's race," Steigenga added. "Kyra Young ran a very smart race and moved up through the field to finish 49th with a season best time. Brittany and Kaitlyn were eight and seven seconds off their season bests. Hope set a new personal record by 25 seconds and Kyra Davis ran 46 seconds faster than the Regional meet to set a new personal record."
The 2021 Vincennes University Cross Country season comes to an end with the results at Nationals, but many of these runners now turn their attentions to the Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field seasons coming in the Spring.
"The National meet is always a tough race," Steigenga said. "Everyone was forced to go out faster than normal with such a competitive field. It was a great first Nationals experience for a lot of our runners. I am very proud of both teams," Steigenga added. "They have made a lot of progress this season and finishing higher than our ranking was a great way to end the season."
VINCENNES RESULTS
Women's 5K – 17th
Kyra Young – 49, 20:11.7
Brittany Page – 81, 21:12.9
Kaitlyn Koenig – 97, 21:49.0
Hope Laughlin – 121, 22:38.2
Kyra Davis – 151, 25:41.2
Men's 8K – 19th
Ian Boit – 75, 27:15.4
Manamanya Opiew – 89, 27:25.7
Reed Lawless – 111, 27:59.6
Ernest Momodu – 112, 28:00.6
Walter Tanui – 142, 29:10.8
Tate Hall – 162, 30:13.6
Trey Browne – 174, 31:13.3