Erin Wasserfall will lead a trio of Lee women cross country runners into the NAIA National on Nov. 21 in Vancouver, Wash. She will be joined by Anna Hrushka and Maggie Opelt. It will be the second trip to the big show for each.
Running in the NAIA Qualifying meet at Percy Warner Park, Wasserfall placed third in the field of 64 runners and eight teams. Shorter College won top honors in the team competition and the entire team advanced to the nationals. The Lady Hawks' Justya Mudy (17:16.05) claimed the individual competition and her teammate Sarah Massey (19:09.93) was second.
"Erin ran behind Anna and Maggie during the early part of the season, but she was not to be denied at the most important meet of the season," said coach Don Jayroe. While Wasserfall was running second, Anna Hrushka (19:40) ran close behind and placed fourth. Opelt (20:29) was ninth.
Joy Hrushka (20:35) was 10th in the 5k event and Kristin Cretton (20:43) came in 13th and Sydnee Bowman (22:55) registered a 31st place finish.
Two difference NAIA conferences came together for the event. Shorter, Lee, Southern Wesleyan and Brenau represented the SSAC. Union University placed third and joined Blue Mountain, Lyon and Bethel in representing the TranSouth.
Running against colleges from three different conference, Will Jayroe (26:30) finished fourth in the 100 runner and 12 team field NAIA Qualifying meet, while freshman Steve Snyder (26:35) was sixth in earning spots in the NAIA Cross Country National on Nov. 21. The qualifier was staged at the Percy Warner Park and was run in patches of mud.
According to Lee coach Don Jayroe, his son Will, came out of a running slump just in time to repeat as the Flames' No. 1 runner and join Snyder in the national. "Will ran with great determination from the start of the race and was the first non-Kenyan runner to come across the finish line," added Jayroe.
Alex Betts (25:59) represented Union University and finished first. Ellud Ng'etich (26:00 and Peter Limo (26:21), both of Shorter took second and third. Shorter was first in the team competition. Union was third and Berea placed third.
Jayroe and Snyder will make the long journey to Vancouver. Wash for the nationals. Others who did not qualify were: Caleb Morgan (27:12), who placed 12th; Andrew Darwin (27:29) was 15th; Matt Mitchell (27:42) was 19th; Mike Walker (27:42 came in 20th; Nathan Bennett (28:19) placed 21st; Josiah Young (28:39) was 40th; and Nathaniel Sexton (29:25) was 45th in the 8k event.