Curran Leads NCAA Regional Newcomers
Concordia had all seven runners competing in their very first NCAA Regional Meet and were led by freshman Sarah Curran.
PELLA, Iowa (11/15/14)—Concordia had all seven runners competing in their very first NCAA Regional Meet and were led by freshman Sarah Curran who stepped into the team's No.1 runner role and helped Concordia to a 25th-place finish at the meet.
Curran was running as the team's top harrier because season-long No.1 runner Kaya Baker stepped aside to play with the Cobber women's hockey team for the weekend. Curran carried the torch over the 6k course and came home in 117th place with a time of 24:36.3. It was her second fastest time over a 6k course for the season.
Curran just edged out teammate Anna Sneltjes at the finish line. Sneltjes, who was competing in her first-ever NCAA Regional Meet, ran a season-best 24:38.6 and was one spot behind Curran in 118th place.
Curran and Sneltjes were two of the five Cobber runners who posted career-best times at the meet.
Junior Susan Drache was the team's No.3 runner at the meet. Like Snletjes, she was competing in her first regional meet. She covered the course in a season-best time of 24:59.4 and placed 133rd at the meet. It marked the first time in her career that she has broken the 25-minute mark over a 6k course.
Liz Stageberg and Kaley Hedberg rounded out the top 5 for Concordia. The two finished the course just 12.3 seconds, and four places, apart. Stageberg crossed the line in a time of 25:44.0 and was 149th. She was racing for the first time since the Roy Griak Invite on Sept. 27. Her finishing time was the fastest of the season. Hedberg came home in a time of 25:56.3 and posted a 153rd-place finish.
Concordia Individual Results
1. Sarah Curran - 24:36.3
2. Anna Sneltjes - 24:38.6
3. Susan Drache - 24:59.4
4. Liz Stageberg - 25:44.0
5. Kaley Hedberg - 25:56.3
6. Karley Petersen - 26:13.6
7. Mariah Lardy - 26:48.6