Sarka prepares for Nationals as cross country season ends
By Adrian Kendrick
Feature Editor
The University of Indianapolis men’s and women’s cross country teams look to the future as the season comes to an end.
At the NCAA Regional meet at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville on Nov. 3, the women placed 10 of 22 teams. Senior LeAnn Sarka posted a personal-best time of 22:06 to place 11th and qualify for the national championships in Joplin, Mo., on Nov. 17. The men’s team placed 17th. Junior Adam Settle led the ‘Hounds witth a 50th-place finish and a time of 33:19.
UIndy hosted the Great Lakes Valley Conference championships at Butler University on Oct. 20.
“The staff at the university did a nice job accommodating everybody and worked really hard to promote and to present it better than they have in the past,” said head coach Kathy Casey.
Sarka and junior Ashley Clifford led the Greyhound women’s team to a fifth-place finish at the GLVC championships. They both were named to the All-GLVC Team for their top-ten finishes at the meet. Sarka finished eighth with a 22:52 time on the 6k course. Clifford was right behind her in ninth, coming in at 22:56.
“I feel the team did well. A lot of people did their personal best, which was the highlight of the meet,” Sarka said.
The Greyhound men’s team finished ninth at the GLVC Championships. With 112 men competing in the eight-kilometer race, junior Adam Settle finished 19th individually to lead the ‘Hounds with a time of 26. Senior Brad Robinson was second for the ‘Hounds with 26:56.
“I was a little disappointed in the men’s overall performance,” Casey said.
According to Robinson, the men’s team has had a mediocre season and has not accomplished set goals.
“Hopefully the team will try to build on what we already have so we can place higher,” Robinson said.
Casey said the teams are getting what they can out of the athletes that they have, and it’s just what they can accomplish right now.
“Our conference and our region is tough, we have good athletes and they are doing what they can,” Casey said. “But we’re at a place where we need to recruit [players] to fill in the gaps to help our team move forward.”
The cross-country team is preparing for their off-season as well; according to Casey the team will take a little time to themselves.
“It’s the time to work on academics and getting back to being a somewhat normal person, but still remembering we are athletes at heart,” Casey said.
