Spartan XC Regional Preview and Meet Information
Nov 13, 2014
Click here for NCAA CENTRAL REGIONAL RESULTS
Starting Draw Boxes for Women's and Men's Teams
PELLA, Iowa – The Spartans are geared up and ready to go for the 2014 NCAA Division III Central Regional Championships hosted appropriately by Central College. Coach Gunnelson’s crew will take on a familiar A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex course that they previously raced at earlier this year and at the Iowa Conference Championships in 2013.
Momentum is on their side after securing one of their best performances two weeks ago at the IIAC Championships in Indianola. The pair of fifth-place IIAC finishes is a step in the right direction for a talented squad that graduates one senior between the 14 projected regional varsity runners.
Junior Payton Nevills will lead the men into battle after securing a 17th-place finish at the IIAC Championships. Freshman Alec Bass paces the rest of the Spartan-5 after establishing the second-fastest time in UD history (26:17) in September.
Lead women’s runner, sophomore Fabiola Ortiz, continues to improve by leaps and bounds as she aims for a spot at Nationals. She became the second IIAC first-teamer in school history after placing 6th (23:18) at the IIAC Championships.
Coach Gunnelson on the status of his team:
READINESS and COMPETITION
"We're very excited to race this weekend. This will be the best competition and running atmosphere we've seen all year. The Central Region is tough with 4 of the top 25 teams in the country on both the men's and women's sides. We're fit, prepared, most importantly healthy and will perform well."
WEATHER
"There's no doubt it will be cold and most likely snowing but the weather won't really affect us. We ran in similar conditions at the Warrior Invite earlier this year and had a great meet. They know it's certainly not a hindrance but just another opportunity to get out and compete."
EXPECTATIONS and FAMILIARITY
"Saturday is going to be a great day for the Spartans. We've run this course already and all of our veterans competed on this course last year in a championship setting at the Iowa Conference meet. So the familiarity with this course will certainly play to our advantage."
The Facts
2014 NCAA Division III Central Regional Championship Meet
A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex course
Pella, Iowa
Men’s Start: 11:00 AM
# of Teams: 28
-Includes all 8 from IIAC
-Have NOT raced 13 of 28
Women’s Start: 12:00 PM
# of Teams: 27
-Includes all 8 from IIAC
-Have NOT raced 13 of 27
Forecast: 32 degrees, SE wind 5-8 mph, 100% Chance of SNOW
The Stats
MEN
Similar Teams to Watch
Finished within :30 of UD’s avg time at same meet
Coe
Grinnell
Simpson (2x)
Bethel
St. Scholastica
Gustavus Adolphus
WOMEN
Similar Teams to Watch
Finished within :30 of UD’s avg time at same meet
Simpson (2x)
Grinnell (2x)
Central (2x)
Coe
Loras
Cornell
Projected Lineup
***Order based on finish at 2014 IIAC Championships
The Spartans already have a familiarity with the course after two races at Central in the last 12 months. Their resumes below:
|
Spartan MEN |
Year |
Meet |
Place and Time |
Weather |
|
Nevills |
JR |
9/6/14 DI* |
16th, 27:01 |
|
|
Bass |
FR |
DI |
23rd, 27:27 |
|
|
Murray |
JR |
DI |
54th, 29:10 |
|
|
Lindsay |
FR |
DI |
32nd, 28:02 |
|
|
Berland |
SO |
DI |
67th, 30:23 |
|
|
Zittritsch |
JR |
IIAC |
79th, 28:46 |
|
|
Helzer |
FR |
DI |
66th, 30:23 |
|
|
Dolan |
FR |
-- |
-- |
|
|
Ploenzke |
JR |
DI |
92nd, 31:38 |
|
Spartan WOMEN |
Year |
Meet |
Place and Time |
Weather |
|
Ortiz |
SO |
9/6/14 DI* |
9th, 23:54 |
|
|
Busjahn |
JR |
IIAC |
43rd, 25:09 |
|
|
Nava |
SR |
DI |
49th, 26:04 |
|
|
Mackenburg |
FR |
DI |
72nd, 27:03 |
|
|
Sears |
FR |
DI |
33rd, 25:20 |
|
|
Wenthold |
JR |
DI |
59th, 26:21 |
|
|
Brooks |
FR |
DI |
55th, 26:15 |
|
|
Todman |
SO |
DI |
105th, 28:49 |
|
|
Holen |
SR |
DI |
66th, 26:38 |
The Course
The 6,000-meter and 8,000-meter courses both follow the same loops until the “final finish loop”, from which the 6k will break off and the 8k will continue onto its 3rd loop. Upon the 8k’s completion of the third loop it will then follow the same final finish loop as the 6k. There are three loops on the course. A large loop, a small loop, and a finish loop. The 6k includes two large loops and a finish loop. The 8k includes two large loops, one small loop, and the finish loop.
The Start
The starting line has room for 35 or more boxes of 2.5 meters each, and sits at the bottom of a gradual incline. There is a slight veer at 204 meters, and the first turn is 407 meters into course.
The Loops
The large loop includes two hills which are about 100 meters (each) and one hill that is approximately 200 meters long. The loop follows along the tree line and prairie grass, as well as winds into a wooded area that is covered by shade and follows along a creek. The course wraps around a practice softball field and continues along the tree line and prairie grass.
The small loop has one hill that is approximately 200 meters long. This loop follows about 80% of the large loop, but cuts out the section around the practice field. The finish loop has one hill that is approximately 50 meters long.
The Teams
BOLD = Raced team earlier this year
MEN: Augsburg, Bethany Lutheran, Bethel, Buena Vista, Central, Carleton, Coe, Concordia-Moorhead, Cornell, Dubuque, Grinnell, Gustavus Adolphus, Hamline, Loras, Luther, Macalester, Martin Luther, Minnesota–Morris, Nebraska Wesleyan, Northwestern-Saint Paul, Saint Mary’s (Minn.), Simpson, St. John’s (Minn.), St. Olaf, St. Scholastica, St. Thomas (Minn.), and Wartburg
WOMEN: Augsburg, Bethany Lutheran, Bethel, Buena Vista, Central, Carleton, Coe, Concordia - Moorhead, Cornell, Dubuque, Grinnell, Gustavus Adolphus, Hamline, Loras, Luther, Macalester, Martin Luther, Minnesota – Morris, Nebraska Wesleyan, Northwestern-Saint Paul, Saint Mary’s (Minn.), Simpson, St. Benedict, St. Catherine, St. Olaf, St. Scholastica, St. Thomas (Minn.), and Wartburg
The Schedule
| 9 a.m. |
Course opens |
| 10:30 a.m. | First gun fired (30 minutes to start) |
| 10:35 a.m. |
National anthem |
| 10:40 a.m. |
Second gun fired (20 minutes to start) |
| 10:50 a.m. | Third gun fired (10 minutes to start) |
| 11 a.m. |
Men's 8,000-meter championship race |
| 11:30 a.m. | First gun fired (30 minutes to start) |
| 11:40 a.m. | Second gun fired (20 minutes to start) Women's competitors must report to assigned boxes. Begin clerking procedure |
| 11:50 a.m. | Third gun fired (10 minutes to start) |
| Noon | Women's 6,000-meter championship race |
| 12:45 p.m. | Awards ceremony |
