Weather And Newcomers Dominate Jimmie Invite

JAMESTOWN, N.D. (10/11/13)—Weather and newcomers were the order of the day at the Jamestown Invitational. Running through rain and soggy conditions, three freshmen placed in the team's top four for the Cobbers as Concordia finished fourth as a team at the meet.

With lightning and rain delaying the start of the race, Concordia was forced to run through less than ideal conditions. The Cobbers were also without their No.1 runner on the year – Ryan Sederquist who stayed behind to fulfill a music commitment. Freshman Matthew Lillehaugen carried the torch for Sederquist, clocking a 26:52 over the 8k course and finishing in 10^th place. Lillehaugen continues his impressive opening collegiate season. It marks the third time in four meets he has finished in the overall top 20 and he now has two top 10 finishes on his resume.

Carl Wahlin and Tyler Pederson were the other two newcomers to finish in the CC top 4 at the meet. Wahlin has been the team's No.3 runner throughout the season and ran a 27:33 at the Jimmie Invite. That time was good enough for 16^th place – his second top 20 finish of the year. Pederson came home with a time of 28:29 and was 29^th for the race. It is the first time all season Pederson ha placed in the team's top 4 at a meet.  

The lone upperclassmen to crack the team's top 4 at the meet was Henry Dobbs. Dobbs has been a consistent contributor to the Cobbers' scoring contingent the whole season. He finished the Jimmie Invite in a time of 28:20 and came home in 27^th place.

A fourth freshman factored in as the team's No.5 runner. Cody Bekkerus crossed the finish line in a time of 29:00 which is a 23-second improvement from his last area 8k race at the MSU Moorhead Invite.

Concordia will step up their competitive schedule when they participate in the UW-La Crosse Invite on Saturday, Oct. 19. The meet will feature many of the top nationally ranked teams as squads prepare for their upcoming conference championships at the beginning of November.  The race will also showcase nine of the 11 MIAC teams as the meet will be a good measuring stick heading into the conference championship at Como Park GC in St. Paul on Saturday, Nov. 2.