Runners in search of repeat MIAC crown

One year ago, the St. Olaf men’s cross country team was celebrating a MIAC championship in a wide-open field at the conference meet. A week from Saturday at Como Park Golf Course in St. Paul, the team hopes history will repeat itself in what appears to be another even competition, while the women’s team hopes to match the men.

In their final regular season meet before the postseason portion of the schedule begins, the Ole men finished 14^th out of 29 teams Saturday at the Jim Drews Invitational. Jacob Marotz ’10, who bounced back from an injury to push St. Olaf over the top at last year’s MIACs, paced the Oles by placing 25^th, covering the eight-kilometer course in 25 minutes, 42 seconds.

Ben Wilson stepped into the second position on the team, placing 79^th. Chris Massey ’13, Dobuol Ruon ’11 and Jon Lambert ’11 rounded out the top five for the squad.

Four of the five scorers competed at last year’s MIAC meet, with Ruon winning the individual title. This experience has the team confident about their chances at next week’s race.

“As a team, we have one goal: to win,” Wilson said. “There are five or six teams with a good shot at the title, but we're confident that if we race to our potential, then we'll be in contention to defend last year's conference championship.”

The Ole women had a strong showing at Saturday’s Tori Neubauer Invitational, placing 10^th overall and first among eight MIAC teams. First year Emma Lee once again led St. Olaf, earning 23^rd place in a time of 22:39.

Maren Westby ’12 delivered a personal best time of 23:02 in the 6K race, finishing 58^th overall. Abby Smith ’10, Georgia Greene ’13 and Laura Cook ’11 also placed for the Oles.

The Ole women came in fourth at last year’s MIAC meet, trailing St. Thomas, Bethel and Carleton. Those three teams remain the favorites this season, with each team ranked in the top five of the NCAA Division III Central Region. St. Olaf is currently ranked seventh.

The men’s squad is ranked fifth in the Central Region, second among MIAC teams. St. Thomas enters next week’s race as the slight favorites, ranked third in the Central Region and No. 22 in the nation.

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