Cross Country races to regionals  

By: Ian Van Anden
Sports Editor

 The Monmouth College cross country team participated in the NCAA Midwest Regional on Saturday, Nov. 11 to conclude their season.

The men’s team, who had an impressive 2007 season that included the Midwest Conference championship, placed 14th at the 37 team event. As for the women, they placed 25th against a 38 team field.

Senior Kel Bond ended his Monmouth College career in the NCAA event. Bond placed 43rd in the event, the best finish by a Monmouth College athlete. His time was 25:53.2.

Senior Aaron Etinne also ran in the race placing 64th in a time of 26:07.7. Bond and Etinne were joined by a third senior, Darin VanNattan. VanNatten finished with a time of 26:48 and placed 98th.

The Scots had two freshmen running in the race, Brad Begyn and Clay Staley. Begyn had a time of 27:27.6 and placed 136th. Staley had an impressive showing with a race time of 26:28.3 and placing 87th.

Juniors Seth Leitner and Adam Rodriguez both participated in the event. Leitner placed 99th with a time of 26:49.4. Rodriguez came in 115th with a time of 27:03.3.

The women’s team had seven athletes run in the Nov. 11th event. The group included three seniors, Kila Cox, Taylor Froeliger, Sara Ingersoll and Joni Nelson. Cox placed 156th in a time of 25:18.1. Froeliger had the best performance of the Monmouth senior females with a race time of 24:42.1. Ingersoll had a time of 24:51.9 which was good enough for 136th over all. Rounding out the seniors was Nelson who had a race time of 24:56.1 and placed 141st.

Fellow freshman, Amy Aggababian, placed 163rd in a final time of 25:26.9.

MC’s freshman Katie Staab stole the show for the women with her 128th place finish, thanks to her time of 24:39.6. Staab’s finish was the best among the women.

The ladies finished the year fifth in the Midwest Conference. Next year, the Scots will lose some of their top runners, but will return several talented young runners, including Staab.