Bass Earns Spartans First All-IIAC Cross Country Distinction in 15 Years
Oct 31, 2015
DUBUQUE, Iowa - Sophomore Alec Bass placed 10th overall (27:10) to garner All-IIAC honors for the first time in his career to pace the University of Dubuque men's cross country team to a sixth-place showing at the Iowa Conference Championships on Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans accumulated 164 points in the eight-team meet as host Loras won the team title with 32 points at the Dubuque soccer complex in chilly, rainy conditions. Despite having its best point total since 1983, the Spartans couldn't match its fifth-place showing from a year ago.
Needing a Top-15 finish to secure the All-IIAC distinction, Bass secured it with ease after crossing the line in 27:10. Bass became the first Spartan to receive All-IIAC accolades since Pat Cleary (7th) and Kraig Schultz (15th) in 2000. The sophomore continued his successul 2015 after securing the second-fastest time in UD history earlier this season with a 26:16 at Grinnell's Les Duke Invitational.
"Alec ran the best cross race of his career and continues to improve," said Head Coach Geoff Gundlach. "He finished the last two kilometers well today and that is something we have been trying to improve during specific workouts. It was of extreme importance in going up against the region's best runners."
Senior Payton Nevills (28th, 28:12), Riley Holst (57th, 29:19), senior Jordan Murray (76th, 30:02), Jack Lindsay (79th, 30:06), Hunter Reifschneider (84th, 30:16), and Ames Helzer (96th, 30:35) rounded out the Spartan varsity.
The Spartans head to the NCAA Division III Central Regional meet on Saturday, November 14 at Central College's cross country course in Pella, Iowa at 11:00 a.m.
