Flames’ effort ‘best team performance in 25 years’
LINCOLN, Neb. – There is no greater authority on the history of College of Saint Mary cross country than current coach Derek Fey.
So when he makes a statement on his team's performance, it's done with the knowledge of all of that history. And that makes the Flames' sixth-place effort at Saturday's Greeno-Dirksen Invite even more impressive.
"That was the best team performance we have had in the 25 years of this program,'' Fey said. "And the scary part is, they all have a lot of room to grow.''
CSM finished sixth in the 16-team field with 205 team points. The University of Nebraska at Kearney won with 37, Northwest Missouri State had 60, Black Hills State (S.D.) was next with 115, the University of Saint Mary (Kan.) placed fourth at 163 and Morningside University took fifth at 192.
A closer look at the numbers reveals the quality of CSM's performance. UNK, Northwest Missouri State and Black Hills State are NCAA Division II programs.
"Last year, Saint Mary's from Kansas beat us by 200 points. This year, it was just over 40,'' Fey said. "They are preseason ranked fifth in the country (NAIA). I think we are a top 25 team in the country.
"Morningside beat us today because they have a frontrunner (seventh-place Courtney Sporrer). In a huge race like that, that can be a killer. In a smaller race, we would've (beaten Morningside) today.''
Leading CSM over the 5,000-meter course was sophomore Kara Muller in 27th (19:31.56). The other scorers were sophomore Josie Karnik (41st, 19:46.41), senior Corinne Mead (46th, 19:55.49), junior Yenifer Juan Jesus (58th, 20:05.62) and junior Mira Fosmer (60th, 20:06.54).
Other finishers were Olivia Elbert in 62nd (20:13.54), Kiley Craft in 67th (20:21.06), Sarah Dickas in 117th (21:53.66), Lily Ray in 129th (22:19.38), Peyton Bell in 137th (22:42.06), Kaitlyn Thalman in 139th (22:56.59), Natalie Briggs in 154th (24:10.45) and Evie Kelly in 156th (24:18.73).
"Josie and Corinne really stepped up and led our pack of six runners,'' Fey said. "We are mastering the art of running together, and that showed again today. Many all-time PRs, as well as numerous course personal records on a morning that got very warm during the race.''
Fey said the performance of Ray deserved special mention.
"It was Lily's first cross country meet ever, as she did not run cross country or track in high school,'' he said. "Incredible for her first performance.''
CSM will return to action on Oct. 4 at the Chile Pepper Invite in Fayetteville, Ark.