Bonds Finishes Fifth at Midwest Regionals; Punches Ticket to Terre Haute
Nov. 14, 2009
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. –
Senior Lauren Bonds earned an automatic bid to the 2009 Cross Country National Championships after an impressive fifth-place finish at the Midwest Regional Championships on Saturday, Nov. 14 in Springfield, Mo. As one of the top four finishers not on a nationals’ qualifying team, Bonds will get the chance to compete in Terre Haute, Ind. on Nov. 23.
Bonds earned All-Region honors for the second consecutive year and became the only Kansas female runner to earn a ticket to nationals since 1994, when the KU women’s team finished first in its region to receive an automatic bid. The Hutchinson, Kan., native positioned herself in sixth place for much of the race, but with less than a kilometer remaining, she kicked it in to pass Beverly Ramos of Kansas State, putting six seconds on the rival Wildcat in the final 200 meters. Bonds finished fifth in a field of 173 runners with a time of 20:49.10.
With Bonds leading the charge, the women’s team finished 10th in the Midwest Region, collecting 247 total points. Sophomore Kara Windisch was the Jayhawks’ No. 2 finisher, as she placed 42nd overall with a 6K time of 21:56.50. Windisch improved several places from her performance at the 2008 Midwest Regionals meet.
Senior Kellie Schneider was 63rd with a time of 22:25, while sophomore Rebeka Stowe was close behind in 68th place. Stowe clocked in a 22:39.90.
Rounding out the scoring for the Jayhawks was freshman Tessa Turcotte, who finished 95th with a time of 23:12.40. Freshman Kathleen Thompson also saw her first regional championships action, as she crossed the finish line in 24:32.50 to take 144th place.
The men’s team took ninth place overall, which was a one-spot improvement from its regional ranking entering this event. The Jayhawks were once again led by sophomore Donny Wasinger, who finished in 35th place with a 10K time of 31:58.20.
Junior Nick Caprario and sophomore Zach Zarda both had strong races in Springfield as well, finishing as the Jayhawks’ No. 2 and No. 3 runners. Caprario clocked in 32:23.60 to take 46th, while Zarda posted a 10K time of 32:35.50 to earn 52nd place in his first Midwest Regional Championship appearance.
Junior Dan Van Orsdel took 64th with a time of 32:56.70, and Kaleb Humphreys filled the final scoring position with a 69th-place performance and a time of 33:07.90.
Sophomore Austin Bussing competed in his first-career 10K, posting a time of 33:21 to take 75th place in a field of 174 runners. Senior Bret Imgrund raced in his final meet for the Crimson and Blue, taking 84th place with a time of 33:33.80.
The Midwest Regional Championships marks the end of the 2009 season for Kansas Cross Country. Of the 14 athletes competing at this meet, Kansas will graduate three members in Lauren Bonds, Kellie Schneider and Bret Imgrund.
Bonds will be back in action as an individual competitor at the 2009 National Championships on Nov. 23 in Terre Haute, Ind.
WOMEN
Team Results
1. Minnesota 60
2. Illinois 86
3. Iowa State 106
4. Nebraska 147
5. Iowa 160
10. Kansas 247
Top Individual Results
1. Angela Bizzari, Illinois 20:07.50
2. Megan Duwell, Minnesota 20:14.50
3. Lisa Koll, Iowa State 20:19.20
4. Kristin Sutherland, Illinois 20:44.10
5. Lauren Bonds, Kansas 20:49.10
Kansas Individual Results
42. Kara Windisch 21:56.50
63. Kellie Schneider 22:25.00
68. Rebeka Stowe 22:33.90
95. Tessa Turcotte 23:12.40
144. Kathleen Thompson 24:32.50
MEN
Team Results
1. Oklahoma State 50
2. Oklahoma 71
3. Iowa State 109
4. Minnesota 125
5. Southern Illinois 160
9. Kansas 252
Top Individual Results
1. Hassan Mead, Minnesota 30:21.90
2. Jeff Schirmer, Southern Illinois 30:49.90
3. Kevin Schwab, Oklahoma 30:52.00
4. Robert Sorrell, Oklahoma 30:53.40
5. Hillary Bor, Iowa State 30:55.60
Kansas Individual Results
35. Donny Wasinger 31:58.20
46. Nick Caprario 32:23.60
52. Zach Zarda 32:35.50
64. Dan Van Orsdel 32:56.70
69. Kaleb Humphreys 33:07.90
75. Austin Bussing 33:21.00
84. Bret Imgrund 33:33.80
