Cross Country

The North Iowa Area Community College cross country program had a strong season in 2007 and with a deep class of newcomers, both the men’s and women’s teams have legitimate shots to improve upon their third-place finishes in the Region XI meet.

Head coach Curtis Vais, now in his fifth year, brings back a handful of returnees to the men’s squad, which placed 21st in the NJCAA cross country nationals last fall. Seth Blanchard (Charlotte, IA) finished 134th at last year’s nationals. Blanchard was also 16th individually at the Region XI meet while Colombian Juan Rodriguez placed 13th. Another who could help right away is Trevor Thein (Nashua, IA), who nearly made the outdoor track and field nationals in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Sam Mayer (Wyckoff, MN) was also a top-seven runner for the Trojans a year ago and should compete in that category again.

A strong group of newcomers give NIACC much to be excited about, said Vais. Freshman Corey Robertson of Columbus-Junction High School was second in the Iowa Class 2A boys cross country meet and Osage High’s John Medlin placed third in that race. Another Iowan, Southeast Polk’s Mayai Cobai finished 63rd in the Class 4A meet. A pair of Minnesota products, Raleigh Morgan of Mounds View High and Dustyn Hessie of Minneapolis South High, are quality athletes too. Morgan was a state qualifier in cross country in Minnesota’s large school division. Hessie was one of the top 800-meter runners during the track and field season.

In women’s cross country, the Trojans placed 28th overall as Kacy Nehowig (Paynesville, MN) finished 63rd individually. Nehowig won the individual title at the Waubonsee Chief Invitational as her team took team honors. She was also the 30th best freshman in the NJCAA women’s cross country race last fall and set the school record for five kilometers with a clocking of 19:25. She’s back, along with NIACC’s number three runner from the 2007 nationals roster, Magen Krones (Mason City, IA). A middle distance standout from the track program, Emily Mujica (Mason City, IA), give Vais plenty of experienced talent. Mujica was an 800-meter national qualifier in the NJCAA indoor track season.

Iowa newcomers Sarah Humphrey (Northeast Polk High School) and Konnie Kiefer (Garner, IA) were both state qualifiers in their divisions at last year’s Iowa girls state cross country meet, with Humphrey competing in the 2A meet and Kiefer running in the 3A competition. They should compete for spots in the top seven. Hannah Poolman of Charles City comes from a strong cross country program and could contribute in the top seven right away.

NIACC’s cross country teams will run at the Region XI time trials on August 22 before traveling to Cedar Rapids for the Mt. Mercy Mustang Gallop. The men placed second in that meet a year ago while the women placed fifth. Both teams will try to defend their team titles at the Waubonsee Chief Invite on September 6. The Region XI meet is October 25 at Ellsworth Community College in nearby Iowa Falls and the NJCAA national meet will be in Spartanburg, SC, on November 8.