Lancer Runners Tackle IWU Twilight InvitationalMARION – Grace College’s cross country team experienced its first traditional race of the year on Friday with the IWU Twilight Invitational.
The meet featured over 100 runners in both the men’s and women’s races. The men finished eighth out of 15 teams, and the women were 11th out of 16.
The men’s team finished in a tight pack. The first and sixth Lancers finished 49 seconds apart.
Grace’s top four finishers on the men’s side were all freshmen. Bryan Hernandez-Rios paced the Lancers in a time of 27:02, good for 35th overall.
Dimitri Margaritidis was next at 27:22, and Isaac Beatty was two seconds behind him. Logan Rufenacht placed 65th in a time of 27:40.
Ben Rankin was less than a second behind Rufenacht, and John Marhefka was Grace’s sixth finisher in 27:51.
On the women’s side, senior Jessica Zvers led the way. She crossed the finish line in 19:47 to place 36th overall.
Heather Plastow was the second finisher for the Lady Lancers in 20:06, and freshman Weslea Arthur completed her race in 21:04.
Suzanne Sickafoose was next with a time of 21:26, and Makenzie Adams (21:54) and Rebekah Rexroth (22:14) completed the squad.
“This was a great first test for our men and women. We saw marked improvement compared to last year, and we were really impressed with both teams up front putting themselves in great positions early on,” said Grace head coach Jake Poyner. “The men’s side had a 39-second spread from our first through fifth runners, which we were happy with. We missed having Carter Meyer out there (sickness), but he will have a huge impact when he returns. I’m very proud of the team’s effort, our attitudes and where we want to be moving forward.”
The Lancers are back in action Sept. 20 with the Midwest Intercollegiate held in Bourbonnais, Ill.
