Manchester takes HCAC Titles

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By Matt Muncy, November 2, 2009

“It is the same battle whether you win or lose when heading into regionals,” said head coach Paul Sargent.

 

Manchester College won both men’s and women’s titles. The Grizzly men placed third and the women finished second.

 

Junior Heather Waterman won the women’s event with a time of 23:29. It was her third win of the season. She earned the Most Valuable Runner award and an automatic bid on the All-HCAC team which went to the top 12 runners.

 

“This has been a wonderful season. I did not win last year and I have won three times this year. I have had a great time,” said Waterman.

 

Waterman was the first Grizzly to win the event since Robyn Burns in 2003.

 

Senior Kristi Brown, sophomore Shannon Egold, and sophomore Holly Hatch all were named to the All-HCAC team as well. Brown finished sixth with a time of 24:24, Egold was 11th at 24:52, and Hatch placed 12th with a mark of 12:56.

 

Junior Carmen Alejo made the All-HCAC honorable mention with her 14th place finish and a time of 25:09. Freshman Katie Spellman finished 25th at 26:11 and junior Caitlyn Croan place 42nd with a time of 27:35.

 

“We will be fighting for a Top 10 ranking at the end of the season,” said Sargent.

 

On the men’s side, junior Jake Hojnacki led the Grizzlies with a fifth place finish and a time of 26:57. Hojnacki was the only Grizzly to qualify for the All-HCAC team.

 

Sargent had Brandon Welti for the previous four years who was as consistent as Hojnacki and he sees Hojnacki being able to do well at regionals.

 

Sargent said it takes a lot of pressure off the team when you have one person who consistently finishes in the top 10.

 

“It is a blessing to have.”

 

Sophomore Kinley Weber finished 14th with a time of 27:31 and earned All-HCAC honorable mention. Senior Scotch Swango finished 16th at 27:52 and Junior Kevin Martin was 17th at 28:03.

 

Sophomore Jay Druba was 22nd at 28:29, freshman Brandon Litz was 24th with a time of 28:36 and freshman Daniel Morris finished 31st at 29:26.

 

The teams travel to Terre Haute to run in the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional. They will run at the Lavern Gibson Course.

 

“Each region gets a minimum of two teams and I think we will have three teams on each side make it,” said Sargent.

 

“I would say the difference between this year and last was the running this summer. I did better on bank mileage this summer than last year. I just plugged away and kept working hard."