by Mackenzie Bennett–Morningside’s cross country teams are headed to Lincoln, Nebraska, to compete in the Woody Greeno Invitational Saturday, Sept. 21.
The teams are looking forward to the meet. Senior Clare Kortlever, who competed in the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championship, said, “We had a great first race, and we are really starting to put things together to have a shot to compete in the conference on both sides.”
Junior Connor Ritz, who competed in the NAIA National Cross Country Championship, said the team has been feeling good and they’re ready to “focus at Greeno.”
Despite being unranked, Morningside Cross Country and Track Coach Dave Nash is excited for the races to come. “We think it’s going to be the best team we’ve had in half a decade,” Coach Nash said about the men’s team.
This year the men’s cross country team has received two transfer students: Ro Paschal a transfer from Adam’s State in Colorado, and Miles Scott from the University of South Dakota.
As for the women, Coach Nash said, “We think we can exceed our expectations.”
The Mustang women graduated three seniors, two of whom went to Nationals in 2018. Despite this loss, the women’s cross country team gained Payton Boer and Emalee Funderman, both all–Americans in track. The women’s team is looking stronger and stronger every passing day according to several members of the team.
Looking to the future, past Woody Greeno, Coach Nash said, “I think that our ability to treat every athlete as an individual based on their strengths and weaknesses will pay off in the end.”
In the GPAC, the Dordt men’s team is ranked eighth. On the women’s side, Dordt is ranked 11th and Northwestern is ranked 22nd.
Although none of the ranked GPAC teams are racing at Woody Greeno, Doane’s men will be represented. The team has received votes in national rankings.
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