Nationals is in three weeks. Our ‘A’ team squad will have an unprecedented three freshmen. However, one could not write this article without mentioning our fourth-year team member, Quinn Todzo.
Todzo was sixth for the IXC men today, and for his first time, secured a spot in the ‘A’ men’s championship race at Nationals.
Todzo ran 27:47 at today’s meet, improving 33 seconds from last year’s regional race at Iowa State. Quinn will join Josh Mollway, William Wolf, Brian Butcher, Josh Feldman, Connor Farrell, and Eli Walker at this year’s NIRCA Nationals at Michigan State University on November 11th.
Pack running was on clear display today for the first six kilometers, as pockets of orange and white drifted by spectators on a spectator-friendly course. Our men’s top runners ran together as a large swarm in the first 2k, and then broke off into smaller packs.
Running together up front was a pack of Mollway, Wolf, Butcher, and Farrell, followed by teammates Feldman, Todzo, and Walker slightly behind. These packs stuck together for another 4k, and then strung out as the finish approached. Running into a brutal uphill and windy finish, top runner Mollway represented the team well, securing a medal and another solid race for this freshman.
The team finished in 2nd place and 47 points behind rival Iowa state.
An enormous group of 41 men competed today, many of whom will represent the club well at the NIRCA Nationals ‘B’ race this year.
One such athlete is sophomore Daniel Engel, who ran his first ever cross-country race as an IXC member, and only his second race since high school. Engel has suffered a string of injuries that have held him back for much of his college career, yet was able to run a strong race today in 31:02.
“I felt that my race went well.” Said Engel, “It feels really good to finally race again as I was out for so long.”
Sophomore Jarod Meyer ran aggressively to earn a 45 second season-best. Meyer moved up during the race to run with teammates who typically run ahead of him. “I couldn”t stop myself from smiling the whole time,” said Meyer in an online log, “Because I was having a blast through all the pain.”
Head Coach Richard Skogsberg is happy with the direction of the team and is looking forward to Nationals. “I think other people are envious,” said Skogsberg “We have something really great going on here and it’s entirely attributed to all of you who showed up and took the time for this weekend.”
IXC President Muneeb Ansari is leading the team to their final and most important meet of the season: Nationals.
“I want you guys to take the next three weeks, to give a good final push, so we come out of Nationals with something that we all are collectively proud of,” Said Ansari.
The IXC men’s next race will be the NIRCA Cross Country Nationals on November 11th, at Forest Acres East Golf Course in East Lansing, Michigan.
Results: https://jmsresults.com/results/2017/ashton17.html