Sarah Hawbaker
Lindsborg News Record

The Bethany College cross country team competed well at the McPherson College Shootout despite training through the meet and despite the soft, muddy course.

Head Coach Robert Spies said his runners' times were not as they would have liked, but Spies, along with Assistant Coach Aaron Yoder had told them over the last two weeks that now is a time in the season where a training peak converges on a meet, making it tough to pull out great performances. 

The important part is that each athlete remains diligent in mind set.  It was great to see most continue to stay mentally tough and as a distance runner's body starts to tire the mind must stay strong in order to find the grit deep down inside to push the next step harder than the last.  It's a battle of will," Spies said.

Yoder admitted the women went into the Oct. 13 race with tired legs, yet they battled the second half of the race and finished strong.

"This was a big day for Kylee Martinez who placed for the first time at a college-level race," Yoder said. Martinez placed 10^th.

Also competing for the women were Courtney Lomax (15^th); and Joanna Roberts (28^th).

On the men's side times were slower but the coaches were still pleased with the effort they put forth.

"I enjoyed watching James Farris and Jeremiah Gerardy work together," Yoder said. "Farris had a breakthrough race by placing in the top 10 and earning a spot in the awards."

Farris placed 7^th. Also competing were Gerardy (12^th); Jodan Dahlke (17^th); James Vieyra (33^rd); Zach Hartwell (35^th); Steven Ortiz (43^rd) and Robyn Haynes (44^th).

The team next competes on Oct. 19 at the Ottawa University Invitational.