Eagles run at PSACs

11.5.09 / Sports / By Jennifer Hemenger

Clarion sophomore Jamie Wyatt and freshman Molly Noctor run the course at Edinboro. (Courtesy Photo / Joe Wyatt)

Clarion sophomore Jamie Wyatt and freshman Molly Noctor run the course at Edinboro. (Courtesy Photo / Joe Wyatt)

The women’s cross-country team is coming to the end of its season. The team competed at Edinboro Saturday in the PSAC Cross Country Championships against 16 teams in the rain.

Last season Clarion finished 12th in the PSAC’s and was looking to improve its place this season.

The Lady Eagles did improve Saturday when they took seventh place with a score of 204 points behind Millersville (151), Kutztown (147), Lock Haven (134), Slippery Rock (106), Bloomsburg (95) and Shippensburg (77).

Coach Jayson Resch said, “Our goal at the beginning of the season was to be in the Top 8 teams.

“We were not ranked in the Top 10 all year, so we knew that this would be a challenge. Finishing seventh was a great accomplishment for the team. I was very happy with our finish at the PSAC Championship. We have worked hard all season to get ready for the race and the team ran great.”

Senior Captain, Molly Smathers received her first ALL-PSAC honors after finishing 15th with a time of 23:39.6.
Lisa Nickel, also a Senior Captain, took 22nd with a time of 23:55.

Nickel said, “It felt great,” on the 22nd finish. “I was excited for myself and to see my teammates all so close together at the finish.”
Other runners for Clarion included Ciara Shorts who took 30th with a time of 24:13.9, Kate Reinhart who took 67th with 25:21.4, Allison Regan was 80th with 26:59, Kait Briggs was 108th with 26:59.2, Suzanne Schwerer took 112th with 27:25.8, Molly Noctor was 114th with 27:27.2, Jamie Wyatt was 118th with 27:36.9 and Jenna Schwerer rounded up the Golden Eagles coming in 128th with 28:13.1.

Coach Resch said, “Our primary focus now is to stay healthy and fully recover.

“The rain made the PSAC race a grueling course, so the team was beat up after Saturday’s race. Now we have to take some time to rest and fully recover this week,” Resch said.

Nickel said, “We are taking it easy this week, trying to recover from PSACs and really resting our bodies so we can go into regionals feeling our best.” To fully prepare herself for the race, she is going to “load up on carbs and hydrate and make sure I get plenty of sleep,” Nickel said.

Smathers said, “Our mileage gets cut back, and we focus on icing and getting rest.
“We usually have a pasta party during the week as a team.”

When asked about what she is going to miss about the team, Nickel said, “I’m going to miss the team atmosphere. We really work hard as a group and we all have a great time together. It’s sad to think that I’m never going to be a part of a team like this after I graduate.”

Smathers said, “I’m going to miss the aspect of running on a team with friends, and I’m really going to miss competing at the collegiate level.”

Clarion will compete in the NCAA Division II Regionals Saturday at Mansfield. The Lady Eagles took 15th place last year when Regionals were held at Slippery Rock. They will be looking to improve their times and place Saturday.

Jennifer Hemenger is a staff sports writer for The Call.

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