Women’s cross country competes at GLVC Championship
By Kaley Belakovich | Staff Writer
With the NCAA Division II Regionals rapidly approaching, the University of Indianapolis women’s cross country team has their work cut out for them. The Lady ‘Hounds have placed in the top half of every meet thus far, but the question remains as to whether or not that will cut it for Regionals.
“We have been working really hard this whole season, and I’m excited to show everyone what we’ve got,” said senior Lindsey Sitzman.
While runners generally make individual goals, these women make goals for their team as well.
“They understand the team concept in an individual sport,” said assistant coach Scott Fangman. “The first runner will be cheering on the fifth and sixth runners. You don’t always see that.”
The team placed sixth overall at the 2009 GLVC Cross Country Championship, hosted by Bellarmine University of Oct. 24. Freshman Stephanie Cave led the ‘Hounds, placing ninth on the 6K course in a time of 23:06.99. Fellow freshman Katherine Wilhelm finished in 24:05.26, making her the second UIndy runner to cross the line. Wilhelm placed 27th overall.
The Lady ‘Hounds took a win at the Lucian Rosa Invitational held in Kenosha, Wis., on Oct. 10. Wilhelm led the team to victory, placing first individually with a time of 14:53 for her 4K run. Cave came in behind Wilhelm at 15:11. The team took first place out of two complete teams and two incomplete teams.
The UIndy women’s cross country team hit a bump in the road when they came in 15th out of 34 competing teams at the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational in Chicago, Ill., on Oct. 3. Wilhelm came out on top, clocking in at 18:33 for the 6K race, earning her 17th place.
Cave was the next to finish for the UIndy team, coming in at 48th place with a time of 19:09. Following Cave was junior Lindsay Houvener, who finished in 20:13 for 126th place. Kaitlin Boester followed Houvener by six seconds, earning her the 137th individual spot. Sitzman came in nine seconds after Boester, finishing 148th out of the 378 competing women runners.
The women’s cross country team will compete in Regionals in Kenosha, Wis., on Nov. 7.
“Everyone works hard at practice, and we work well together as a team,” Cave said. “So I think we will place well at Regionals.”
