MT. BERRY, Ga. - Region champions. The Lee women's cross country team earned a first on Saturday morning when the group of runners became the school's first NAIA Cross Country Region XIII champs.
First year coach Don Jayroe said before the Lady Flames ran their first race of the season that he believed these young ladies had a chance to win the region and become the first Lee cross country team to make the NAIA national race.
Jayroe looked like a prophet as his Lady Flames had a combined score of 40 and easily out-pointed second place and reigning region champs, Berry College (61). "Right now is honestly believe I'm the happiest college cross country coach in the world," said Jayroe. "Everyone ran their fastest and best today. It was hands down our best race of the year. This team is the real deal. We are a very talented group that stepped up. They were just awesome. We were the class of the field."
Shorter College placed third. Xavier-Louisiana was fourth and Southern Wesleyan rounded out the top five in the 11 team event.
Both the Southern States Athletic Conference and Region XIII crowns were earned at the single event and the Lady Flames carted away both. The SSAC title was another first in Lee's cross country history.
Sophomore Anne Houghton won individual conference and region honors. Lee's outstanding leader finished with a run of 18:48. Lee had two runners in the top five as Anna Hrushka placed fifth with a time of 20:03.
However, it was solid efforts by Erin Wasserfall, Amber Kienlen and Kristen Cretton that also helped spark the Lady Flames to the championships. Wasserfall placed ninth (20:27). Kienlen was 13th (20:39) and Cretton was right behind in 13th with a time of 20:39. "Those top five (the ones that counted in the points) did exactly what they were suppose to," noted Jayroe.
Lee also had Gabrielle Penas place 55th (23:11). Brittany Davis was 56th (23:18). Emily Dykstra ran 59th (23:29) and Laren Buckner rounded out the Lee finishers at 79th (28:05).
The Lady Flames will travel as a team to Kenosha, Wis. on Saturday, Nov. 17 and take part in the 28th Annual Women's Cross Country Championship. Houghton has been there before, but this time she will be joined by her teammates.