Rain and course conditions at Water Works Park in Des Moines early in the week forced the 12th Annual Viking Classic to be moved to Pickard Park in Indianola on Friday, September 16. The change in venue did not phase the Spartan cross country team, as the men placed third in the six school competition, while the women did not score as a team, but had athletes set season best times.
The Spartan men, racing for the second time this season over 6,000m, posted season best marks on the hilly and mud-laden course. Sophomore Nate Hoyt (Shenandoah) continued to pace the team, as he finished seventh in a time of 20:32. Freshman Jalen Two Leggins (Hardin, MT), Kevin Dietrich (Port Neches, TX), and Jacob Bolinger (Clearfield) worked together in order to secure 18th, 19th, and 21st place finishes, respectively. Freshman Chance Webster (Panora) concluded the scoring for the Spartans with his 26th place finish.
Spartan freshman Alyssa Proffitt (Afton, pictured above) finished 16th with a 5,000m time of 22:06. Freshman Jenna Faust (Earlham) placed 42nd in 24:23, while freshman Odette Muziranenge (West Des Moines) ran 27:01 and Madison Mace (Griswold) 27:31 competed for the Spartan ladies.
"I couldn't be happier with how our students raced today," remarked Spartan Head Coach Nick Ekel. "When every man who raced today set a season's best at 6,000m, and two of the four women who competed set a season's best at 5,000m, on a difficult course, that's a fantastic day."
Ekel continued, "This group has the ability to do some special things together in the coming weeks."
The Spartans will be idle this weekend before returning to racing at the Chili Pepper Invitational hosted by the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AK. Follow Spartan track & field and cross country on Twitter at @SWCC_Track_XC.