CROSS-COUNTRY COMPETES IN BORDER WAR

   In their final tune-up before the Heartland Conference meet, the Lincoln University cross-country team finished 24th out of 29 teams in the Border War Cross-Country Championship on Oct. 7.  The Blue Tigers totaled 680 points in the five kilometer event at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.

   Stacy Kentzler, a sophomore from Pittsburg (Kan.) State University was individual champion in a time of 17:48.76.  Ashley Kyger, a junior from Mid-America Nazarene (Kan.) University was the runner up 8.91 seconds (17:57.67) behind Kentzler.

   By placing four runners in the top 20, Washington University won the meet.  The Bears took first (79 points) on the strength of runners finishing No. 5, No. 6, No. 13, No. 19 and No. 36.

   The Blue Tigers had the highest score of all NCAA Division II schools in the meet.  Lincoln University was close to beating several NCAA DII teams; SIU-Edwardsville No. 14-400 points, Lewis University No. 15-419, Missouri-Rolla No. 16-434, Emporia State No. 17-472 and Kentucky Wesleyan No. 23-677. 

   A total of 294 competitors ran in the women’s race. 

  Nessa Paul led the Blue Tigers as she crossed the finish line No. 30 (19:02.76).  Kaydian Howell ended the race in the top half of the field (No. 135, 21:18.21). 

   Also garnering points for the Blue Tigers were Thelma Smith (169th, 24:29.97), Shelly Ann Barth (171st, 24:50.74) and Semonia Clemons (175th, 25:23.38).  Monique Robinson was 179th in a time of 26:17.48. 

   Barth’s time was a season best as she shaved almost three minutes off her previous best outing 27:36.78 in the Gary Stoner Memorial-Twilight Open on Sept. 22 in Fayette, Mo. on the course at the Fayette Golf Club. 

   The average completion of the race by the Lincoln University team was 22:59.22.  The average finish by the student-athletes from Washington University was 18:34.35.

   The Blue Tigers next race is the Heartland Conference Championship meet Oct. 21 at Riverfront Park in Billings, Mont.  The five kilometer race hosted by Montana State University-Billings begins at 12:00 p.m.  The Riverfront Park course is a flat, grass surface with asphalt trails. 

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