Vikings Run at Briar Cliff

The Dana College men’s and women’s cross country teams traveled to Adams Nature Preserve in South Dakota just outside Sioux City on Saturday.  Mother Nature’s late fall heat proved to be as much as a challenge as the other teams in the meet.  Dana’s runners were pitted against NCAA Division II and II foes, several tough Great Plains Athletic Conference teams and one of the region’s top junior college programs.

Jennifer Anderson (SR, Lincoln, Neb.) finished as the top Viking for the first time this season.  Anderson placed 23rd with a time of 20:47.  Chelsea Fibranz (SO, McPherson, Kan.) finished in 30th place in a time of 20:59. 

The Viking pack followed Fibranz.  Christine Bailey (SO, Omaha, Neb.) finished with a time of 22:11, which placed her 63rd.  She was followed closely by Paris Kono (FR, Waukee, Iowa) in 64th with a time of 22:12.  This was Kono’s first race following a bout of pneumonia.  Tabitha Kabala (SR, Davenport, Iowa) finished 72nd with a time of 22:45.  Emily Johnson (FR, Sheridan, Ark.) finished the course in a time of 25:12.  Ashley Nigh (FR, Omaha, Neb.) rounded out the Viking runners with a time of 28:37.

“Jen ran a great race for us today,” said Head Coach Marc Bierbaum.  “She really stepped up and ran a solid race.  It was a tough day for the ladies.  We did not run well in the heat.  The ladies continue to show promise, but yet to all break through at the same time.  We are a tougher team then we have shown.  We will be ready and back to full strength come next week. ”

The men’s team race was a close one as eight points separated second and fifth place.  Wayne State won the meet with 60 points, while the Vikings placed fifth with 98 points.  Leading the Vikings was Cory Logsdon (SO, Fort Calhoun, Neb.) in 6th place with a time of 27:08.  Following Logsdon was Eric Bane (SR, Oakland, Iowa) in 9th place in 27:36.  Andrew Palmblade (SO, Hastings, Neb.) scored well for the Vikings with a time of 28:11 and in 17th place.  Kevin Bane (SO, Oakland, Iowa) placed 25th with a time of 28:59.  James Gerold (FR, Hastings, Neb.) ran a swift race and placed 41st with a time 29:46.  Gerold was the fifth runner for the Vikings and the last to earn team points.   

The rest of the Vikings were Justin Nielsen (FR, Omaha, Neb.) with a time of 30:27.  Tyler Petersen (SO, Blair, Neb.) covered the course in a time of 31:36.  Dan Staehlin (FR, Omaha, Neb.) finished with a time of 31:47.  Mason Lantz (FR, Fairfield, Iowa), Bryson Pascua (SO, Pearl City, Hawaii), and Chris Creal (FR, Omaha, Neb.) all finished under the 35-minute mark. 

“Our results stung a little,” said Bierbaum.   “This was a great opportunity to gain momentum and maybe some key votes for a possible at large bid to nationals.  Every point counts from here to regionals.  The men realize that and know that the meet next week in Yankton is a big one.”

The Vikings will travel to Graphic Edge Invitational in Yankton, S.D., next weekend.  In two weeks, both teams will compete in the GPAC meet in Crete, Neb.

For more information contact:  Shad Beam, Sports Information director at 402-426-7389 or sbeam@dana.edu or Francisco Lujan, Assistant Sports Information at flujan@dana.edu