The legacy of the Adams State women’s cross country program grew Saturday at Escambia County Equestrian Center when the Grizzlies won the 2006 NCAA Division II team title for the fourth consecutive time.
"We knew it would be tough, and the girls knew they’d have to execute in today’s race, and they did," said Adams State head coach Damon Martin said of his team’s ability to focus.
Adams State graduated four seniors from last year’s team, so Martin said this year was a rebuilding year for his squad. This year’s team did not have any seniors, and Martin is happy to have the team intact for next year.
He said the team struggled through the end of the season, but used a loss at the regional round to get back on track.
"I never want to say that it is good to lose or to use that as motivation," Martin said, "but I think getting beat at regionals forced the team to refocus."
Since 1992, Adams State has won 12 of the 15 Division II national championships, all under Martin’s watch. The only other titlist during that span is Western State, which finished second in this year’s meet.
Western State in fact has finished second to Adams State eight times during the Grizzlies’ 12-title stretch. Conversely, Adams State finished second in two of the three years that Western State won the team championship.
"Western State is great competition and I think it helps both of us that we race against the other as much as we do during the season," Martin said of the two schools separated by just 100 miles in Colorado.
The Grizzlies edged the Mountaineers by seven (94 points to 101), their closest winning margin since winning the team title by eight in 1994.
All was not consolation for Western State, however, as Esther Komen raced to the individual title with a time of 20:09.4. The sophomore finished six seconds ahead of Massachusetts-Lowell’s Nicole Plante.
Komen said she had to adjust to the flat layout of the course, but she did not want to let any of the other runners dictate how she ran the race.
The lead pack of runners consisted of three and four women at different parts of the race, but no one seized control until Komen broke from the group toward the end of the competition.
"I was not used to this group of runners, so I was not sure how they would race," Komen said, "so I started thinking ‘this race should be mine today and‘I should win this thing,’ so that is when I took off."
Western State assistant coach Jennifer Michel said Komen was confident and focused going into the race. She called Komen the "light" for the program on Saturday.
Komen and Plante were followed by Laura Aderman (20:19.6) from Grand Valley State, Rachael Lanzel (20:28.5) of Edinboro and Komen’s teammate Agnes Kroneraff (20:29.8).
Four runners placed in the top 20 in the team standings for Adams State. The Grizzlies’ top runner was eighth-place finisher Brittany Somers (20:35.4). Lavenna Mullenbach was 12th, Heather Wood 13th and Tanya Gaurmer 19th.
Western State also had a strong group showing with four runners finishing in the top 25. Joining Komen and Kroneraff were Anne Ronoh (17th) and Elsabeth Goshu (22nd).
— Zachary Lawson
Team results
1. Adams St., 94; 2. Western St., 101; 3. Grand Valley St., 165; 4. Cal St. L.A., 169; 5. Harding, 196; 6. Seattle Pacific, 195; 7. UC-Colo. Spgs., 211; 8. Wis.-Parkside, 216; 9. Cal St. Chico, 228; 10. Edinboro, 288; 11. Augustana (S.D.), 306; 12. Abilene Christian, 327; 13. North Dakota, 348; 14. Kutztown, 364; 15. Fla. Southern, 366; 16. UC San Diego, 369; 17. Stonehill, 371; 18. Findlay, 397; 19. Tampa, 422; 20. Mass.-Lowell, 463; 21. Fort Lewis, 473; 22. Pittsburg St., 491; 23. N.C. Central, 644; 24. Lincoln Memorial, 740.
Individual results
1. Esther Komen, Western St., 20:09.4; 2. Nicole Plante, Mass.-Lowell, 20:15.6; 3. Laura Aderman, Grand Valley St., 20:19.6; 4. Rachael Lanzel, Edinboro, 20:28.5; 5. Agnes Kroneraff, Western St., 20:29.8; 6. Jael Koech, Fla. Southern, 20:32.1; 7. Nicole Blaesser, Indiana (Pa.), 20:33.7; 8. Brittany Somers, Adams St., 20:35.4; 9. Janee Jones, Harding, 20:36.9; 10. Jessica Pixler, Seattle Pacific, 20:40.0.
11. Shannon Payne, UC-Colo. Spgs., 20:43.2; 12. Katie Hummel, Central Wash., 20:43.9; 13. Olha Kryv'yak, Abilene Christian, 20:45.5; 14. Rachelle Malette, Wayne St. (Mich.), 20:46.1; 15. Allie Shafer, Southern Ind., 20:47.4; 16. Becca Rudey, Saginaw Valley, 20:48.4; 17. Jonel Rossbach, Emporia St., 20:49.8; 18. Lavenna Mullenbach, Adams St., 20:50.1; 19. Heather Wood, Adams St., 20:50.5; 20. Angela Cobb, Clayton St., 20:51.6.
21. Emry McKay, North Ala., 20:51.6; 22. Jillian Tholen, Augustana (S.D.), 20:58.3; 23. Valerie Kelly, Wis.-Parkside, 21:03.6; 24. Pilar Delgado, Cal St. L.A., 21:05.5; 25. Holly Whoolery, Slippery Rock, 21:07.7; 26. Anne Ronoh, Western St., 21:07.8; 27. Emily Roser, Fort Lewis, 21:10.8; 28. Tanya Gaurmer, Adams St., 21:11.2; 29. Jacquie Faust, Truman, 21:12.1; 30. Mary Torres, Cal St. Chico, 21:13.6.
31. Susie Rivard, Grand Valley St., 21:17.2; 32. Elsabeth Goshu, Western St., 21:19.4; 33. Loice Cheboi, Abilene Christian, 21:19.5; 34. Karla Alburez, Cal St. L.A., 21:19.8; 35. Jenna Dorsey-Spitz, UC-Colo. Spgs., 21:21.0; 36. Jessica Lamp, Wis.-Parkside, 21:22.7; 37. Kelly Chaisson, Stonehill, 21:25.0; 38. Savita Chelimo, Harding, 21:25.5; 39. Kaci Lickteig, Neb.-Kearney, 21:25.9; 40. Maija Rhode, Cal St. L.A., 21:26.2.
41. Kalina Szteyn, Harding, 21:26.9; 42. Carolyne Kwambai, Fla. Southern, 21:27.2; 43. Stacey Kandas, Grand Valley St., 21:28.0; 44. Ashley Birger, UC-Colo. Spgs., 21:28.4; 45. Sarah Montez, Cal St. Chico, 21:30.5; 46. Jess Fisher, Harding, 21:30.6; 47. Sarah Shepard, UC-Colo. Spgs., 21:30.7; 48. Margaret Landberg, North Dakota, 21:33.5; 49. Diane Dunn, UC San Diego, 21:34.7; 50. Shawna Burger, Cal St. L.A., 21:35.3.
51. Mary Moriarty, Seattle Pacific, 21:36.2; 52. Rachel Ingram, Southwestern Okla., 21:36.6; 53. Jill Winkler, Wis.-Parkside, 21:37.8; 54. Jessica Pape, Augustana (S.D.), 21:37.9; 55. Janette McCarroll, Adams St., 21:38.1; 56. Naomi Fulton, Wis.-Parkside, 21:39.0; 57. Karin Rohde, Seattle Pacific, 21:39.7; 58. Stephanie Williams, Kutztown, 21:40.8; 59. Lindsay Nelson, Cal St. Chico, 21:41.4; 60. Laura Woznicki, Tampa, 21:41.7.
61. Dana DeIngennis, Stonehill, 21:42.2; 62. Suzie Strickler, Seattle Pacific, 21:44.5; 63. Jane Larson, Seattle Pacific, 21:44.6; 64. Bridget Brown, Fort Hays St., 21:46.0; 65. Laura Carr, Alas. Anchorage, 21:46.3; 66. Melissa Nash, Bentley, 21:47.3; 67. Leah Borns, Grand Valley St., 21:48.3; 68. Rebecca Nungesser, Edinboro, 21:49.6; 69. Emily Gauger, Findlay, 21:51.0; 70. Julie Shaw, Cal St. Chico, 21:54.8.
71. Shannon Filar, Western St., 21:56.7; 72. Ashley Wharton, Grand Valley St., 21:56.9; 73. Brittaney Zellner, Findlay, 21:57.3; 74. Nina Miller, UC San Diego, 22:00.4; 75. Lauren Bader, Grand Valley St., 22:00.5; 76. Maribel Cespedes, Cal St. L.A., 22:01.3; 77. Amanda Burkhardt, UC San Diego, 22:01.4; 78. Natalie Provost, Western St., 22:03.4; 79. Megan Wrightman, Seattle Pacific, 22:04.0; 80. Jenny Hockman, Western St., 22:05.5.
81. Rachel Anderson, Fla. Southern, 22:07.1; 82. Amy Lindner, South Dakota, 22:08.1; 83. Desiree Bower, Kutztown, 22:08.7; 84. Erica Bourgeois, Edinboro, 22:08.9; 85. Joanna Horstmann, Kutztown, 22:10.4; 86. Venessa Lee, Pittsburg St., 22:12.1; 87. Jennifer Harpp, Slippery Rock, 22:13.6; 88. Paige Williams, Tampa, 22:15.1; 89. Allison Ivie, Cal St. Chico, 22:15.9; 90. Molly Clark, Augustana (S.D.), 22:16.2.
91. Kristine Beringer, Edinboro, 22:17.7; 92. Kristy Keithley, North Dakota, 22:19.1; 93. Nicole Radzik, Bryant, 22:20.4; 94. Amber Hines, Wingate, 22:24.4; 95. Maureen Watson, Kutztown, 22:25.0; 96. Kristi Dahlheimer, North Dakota, 22:26.8; 97. Kelly Gibbons, Grand Valley St., 22:27.4; 98. Callie Malone, North Dakota, 22:28.1; 99. Rachelle Duerre, North Dakota, 22:28.2; 100. Amanda Gefroh, North Dakota, 22:28.4.
101. Alysha Duffy, Tampa, 22:29.4; 102. Hayley Garner, Abilene Christian, 22:31.6; 103. Ashleigh Montgomery, UC San Diego, 22:33.7; 104. Mary Brown, Harding, 22:34.0; 105. Alyssa Anderson, Augustana (S.D.), 22:34.6; 106. Jessica Quigley, Fort Lewis, 22:34.8; 107. Alana Margraf, Findlay, 22:36.4; 108. Ashley Ferraro, Edinboro, 22:36.5; 109. Emily Junion, Wis.-Parkside, 22:37.7; 110. Aubrey Morris, Carson-Newman, 22:38.5.
111. Caitlin Polgreen, Augustana (S.D.), 22:40.6; 112. Lesley Clunie, Stonehill, 22:40.9; 113. Jessica Forrester, Tampa, 22:41.2; 114. Lori Benke, North Dakota, 22:41.6; 115. Jessica Enderby, Wis.-Parkside, 22:41.9; 116. Venessa Whittle, Abilene Christian, 22:43.9; 117. Samantha Herdrich, Findlay, 22:46.5; 118. Lucinda Fortney, Pittsburg St., 22:46.8; 119. Kate Prichard, Mars Hill, 22:47.6; 120. Christina DaLomba, Mass.-Lowell, 22:48.7;
121. Kirstin Weible, Findlay, 22:51.1; 122. Jackie Oates, Stonehill, 22:54.7; 123. Jenny Gardynski, Stonehill, 22:55.4; 124. Ashley Cooke, N.C. Central, 22:56.4; 125. Kelly Fernandez, Augustana (S.D.), 22:56.8; 126. Julie Jones, Pittsburg St., 22:59.0; 127. Chelsea Thomas, Kutztown, 22:59.4; 128. Lisa Short, UC-Colo. Spgs., 23:00.2; 129. Amy VanGundy, Pittsburg St., 23:00.8; 130. Danielle Shimer, Fla. Southern, 23:01.3.
131. Rachel Sneddon, Pittsburg St., 23:03.4; 132. Kate Harline, Seattle Pacific, 23:04.4; 133. Aisha Kamala, Cal St. Chico, 23:06.1; 134. Mairead Kelly, Augustana (S.D.), 23:06.3; 135. Denise Morgan, Abilene Christian, 23:07.9; 136. Amanda Sousa, Mass.-Lowell, 23:09.1; 137. Jen Laipple, Fort Lewis, 23:10.8; 138. Jessica Latham, Findlay, 23:12.0; 139. Michaela Muniz, Adams St., 23:12.3; 140. Monica Bishop, Fort Lewis, 23:14.5.
141. Emily Thomas, Mass.-Lowell, 23:15.3; 142. Yolanda Barber, N.C. Central, 23:15.4; 143. Patricia Leal, Pittsburg St., 23:15.5; 144. Christina Ricketts, Findlay, 23:18.0; 145. Christy Severy, UC-Colo. Spgs., 23:20.7; 146. Vicky Echeverria, Harding, 23:24.1; 147. Catherine Strouse, UC San Diego, 23:24.5; 148. Holly Johnson, Mass.-Lowell, 23:26.9; 149. Sara Nelson, Tampa, 23:27.8; 150. Michelle Gabrielle, Tampa, 23:28.2.
151. Dinora Moran, Cal St. Chico, 23:28.6; 152. Bridget Herron, Adams St., 23:29.3; 153. Erinn Brooks, N.C. Central, 23:30.1; 154. Tricia Harutun, Fort Lewis, 23:30.4; 155. Jessica Torres, Abilene Christian, 23:32.8; 156. Whitney Lund, UC-Colo. Spgs., 23:35.0; 157. Kim Degener, Wis.-Parkside, 23:35.1; 158. Dana Lindholm, Lees-McRae, 23:38.2; 159. Megan Ballock, Pittsburg St., 23:41.2; 160. Sarah Merullo, Mass.-Lowell, 23:45.7.
161. Cherie Kern, Lincoln Memorial, 23:48.4; 162. Jill Allen, Stonehill, 23:50.0; 163. Latanya Lesine, N.C. Central, 23:50.1; 164. Katy Grant, Harding, 23:51.9; 165. Andrea Topalis, Stonehill, 23:53.5; 166. Emily Burke, Lincoln Memorial, 23:55.5; 167. Cheryl Dingman, Kutztown, 24:00.6; 168. Dara Fox, Tampa, 24:04.7; 169. Aisha Brown, N.C. Central, 24:07.4; 170. Jessica DiMascio, UC San Diego, 24:09.0.
171. Helena Sokolova, Lincoln Memorial, 24:15.9; 172. Lauren Ayars, Kutztown, 24:18.8; 173. Kaydee McCray, Fort Lewis, 24:31.0; 174. Jennifer Ely, Lincoln Memorial, 24:40.5; 175. Gabriella Arrendano, Cal St. L.A., 24:49.5; 176. Ali Gardino, Fla. Southern, 24:55.6; 177. Jordana Henderson, UC San Diego, 24:57.2; 178. Michelle Ratliff, Lincoln Memorial, 24:58.4; 179. Sarah Brassard, Mass.-Lowell, 25:11.7; 180. Desinia Johnson, N.C. Central, 25:16.5.
181. Alyssa Colbert, Fla. Southern, 25:21.2; 182. Heidi Flint, Fort Lewis, 25:26.1; 183. Lakisha Gantt, N.C. Central, 26:11.2; 184. Kathleen Rollett, Lincoln Memorial, 26:15.1; 185. Deidre Ratliff, Lincoln Memorial, 26:21.2; 186. Claire Weinan, Cal St. L.A., 26:40.4; 187. Rachel Hood, Abilene Christian, 32:44.2.
