Iowa Intercollegiate Championship at Iowa State

Good meet for the women and men. Holly Nuetzman, East Sac high school, paced the women’s squad as she ran a time of 22:02 for her first ever 5K. She finished in 33^rd place out of 64 runners. Holly has the competitive edge to be a very good cross country athlete. Emily Erickson, Pine City high school, ran 40 seconds faster than a year ago on the same course. She ran 25:44 for 5K. Megan Long, Lyons Decatur high school, ran her first collegiate 5K in a time of 25:50. The women are improving each week and learning the importance of running mile after mile throughout the week. I am excited with the potential we have on the women’s squad.

The men improved greatly compared to last year’s results. One year ago the men had one runner finished under the 30 minute barrier and this year we had six runners break the 30 minute barrier. Last season our team average was 30:21 and this season the average was 29:05. Alex Lamp, Webster City high school, paced the men as he ran his first collegiate 8K in 27:26 to finish 15^th overall. See the complete results below.

The excitement is climbing as both squads continue to improve their times. I feel good about the youth of our team and the leadership of the upperclassman. I think the program is heading in the right direction.

Athlete	Central (6K) Spread = 2:25 Average = 21:57.6	Pace	ISU (8K) Spread = 2:30 Average = 29:05.0	Pace
Alex Lamp (fr.)	20:15.1	5:26	27:26:00	5:29
Aaron Roberts (fr.)	22:02	5:55	29:06:00	5:49
Ryan Marzen (sr.)	22:30.9	6:02	29:09:00	5:50
Jared Bruce (jr.)			29:47:00	5:57
Brian Christiansen (jr.)	23:09.1	6:12	29:55:00	5:59
Tyler Peterson (fr.)	22:17.6	5:58	29:58:00	5:59
Ben Berberich (fr.)	22:41.6	6:05	31:15:00	6:15
Dan Pearson (jr.)	23:11.3	6:13	31:30:00	6:18
Andrew Smith (jr.)	24:44.2	6:39	35:05:00	7:01
David Jones (jr.)			36:18:00	7:16
Corey Hannula (soph.)	25:22.2	6:49
Ray Villarreal (fr.)	27:39.7	7:26

2011 Central Dutch Invite

The men and women opened up the season at the Central Dutch Invite. Emily Erickson, senior from Pine City, was the only female athlete to compete. Emily is battling some soreness in her knees, but showed some toughness by running through pain. She will continue to improve as the season progresses. I look for good things from Molly Lorenz, Holly Neutzman, and Rachel Burnette in our next meet @ Iowa State.

Alex Lamp, freshmen from Webster City, made some noise in his first collegiate race by finishing 8^th in a school record time of 20:15.7 for 6K. The top five runners for the Beavers included four freshmen and a senior. Fellow classmates Aaron Robert of Audubon, Tyler Peterson of Sioux City North, Ben Berberich of Clay Central Everly, and senior Ryan Marzen of Dougherty all finished within 39 seconds of each other (22:02-22:41). Brian Christiansen and Dan Pearson rounded out the top 7 for the Beavers as both men finished the 6K course in under 23:15. Andrew Smith, Corey Hannula, and Ray Villarreal ran as the 8^th, 9^th, and 10^th men. Top returnee, Jared Bruce, was withheld from action as he nurses a lower leg injury. ICCC transfer David Jones sat out Saturday’s race as well.

There is no question the men have an opportunity to move up the conference standings this season. The guys have to continue to push each other in practice. The key to our success right now will be determined by how the older runners respond to the competition created by our freshmen. I am hoping the competition from within the team will bring out the best in the upperclassmen as well as the new guys.

I hope to see as many of you as possible at the homecoming festivities!

Coach Brennan