Freshman runner leads Lady Eagles in conference championship

Photo by Roxie Gonzalez

A freshman led the Lady Eagles cross-country team at the Heartland Conference Championship meet in Wichita, Kansas on Saturday as the team finished 7th for the second consecutive year.

The runners were excited and ready for the 6K race, hoping to improve from last year, Head Coach Wade Miller said.

Freshman Ainsley Ibison, who finished 19th with a time of 23:47, led the team.

“I was really pleased with the way I ran,” Ibison said. “But I’m not satisfied knowing my team didn’t finish as well as we hoped and that we have to move on to our next meet at nationals.”

Miller said he was pleased with Ibison’s performance.

“Ainsley ran really well as a freshman,” Miller said. “It came down to a photo finish and she got edged out at the end. But she ran really well and has done a good job adjusting as a freshman to the training and the longer races.”

According to sophomore Maci Rich, the Lady Eagles were focused on improving this year and were determined to show the hard work they had put in, but are ready to move on to the next meet.

“Our team competed really well this season and we were really looking to improve as a team at the conference meet,” Rich said. “We placed 7th last year at conference and we had bigger goals this year going into the race.”

Rich, who led the team throughout the year, posted a time of 24:06 and placed 23rd despite suffering cramps in the race.

“My personal goal for the meet was to beat my personal 6K time and really try to place somewhere around the top 20,” Rich said. “I wasn’t too upset with my time, but it was a little frustrating that of all things it was cramps that held me back.”

Rich said the team will continue to work hard and push each other, moving on to the National Christian College Athletic Association Championship.

“The team has done a great job this season at coming closer with each other,” Rich said. “We have done a great job at pushing each other in practice which we hope to continue so that intensity will transfer to our next race.”

According to Ibison, the Lady Eagles will be ready and better prepared for nationals.

“We are going to absolutely leave it all on the track, since it our last meet,” Ibison said.

Miller said his team had a rough day all around as any team can.

“It was a frustrating day for those in maroon and gray,” Miller said. “This could be a learning experience for a young squad like us, having four sophomores and two freshmen among our nine starters.”

Miller said while it wasn’t his team’s best day, there were still some positives to take away.

“I think we did improve [from last year] but everyone else improved as well,” Miller said. “We haven’t made that step to the next level of competition yet and I really want to see that in the near future.”

Layne Hammer finished 28th with a time of 24:17, followed by Tara Lewis at 36th with a time of 24:40. Behind Hammer and Lewis were Katie Jones, finishing 40th in 24:44, and Sarah Cobb with a time of 24:51, finishing 44th.

Oklahoma Christian University will end their season Nov. 15 when they travel to New York for the NCCAA championship.

According to Miller, the conditions for the meet in Houghton, New York could be similar to Wichita’s cold and windy setting, but he said his team will be prepared to run and compete in any conditions.

“This was a good step towards the national meet, and we will be just fine just as long as their isn’t too much snow,” Miller said.