by JONATHAN CZUPRYN The Iola Register | November 16, 2015
The Allen Community College women's cross country teams finished the NJCAA National Championship in 12th place, respectively, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Saturday.
On the women's side, the Lady Red Devils finished their 5k race in 12th place as a team out of 42 squads.
Before the season, DeGrado expressed that he was thankful to simply field a team after not having enough runners to compete as a squad in 2014. So when the small group took home its first Jayhawk East Conference Championship and earned a spot in the NJCAA National Championship, it had already exceeded expectations.
"I felt like going into this race we were playing with house money, I wasn't sure what to expect from the team that was starting the season with all freshman." Kaitlyn Shoemaker, the Lady Red Devils' top runner, finished in 21st place with a time of 19:12.46.
"I believe we could of ran a little better had we went out a little slower, but you know those are the chances you take at a meet of this size." "I felt like we had nothing to lose and everything to gain."
"Proud of them all this season," DeGrado women's teams. "Just have to keep grinding."
"This women's team has set the tone for next year's team and expectations will be at an all-time high."
WOMEN:
21. Kaitlyn Shoemaker — 19:12.46
39. Kristina Silvers — 19:40.67
64. Taylor Jameson — 20:15.70
66. Vicky Ibarra — 20:17.99
224. Asha Alvarez — 22:30.57