Young Runners Lead Way In MIAA Jamboree

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Sophomores Mitchell Klingler and Paul Lewis work together on the MIAA Jamboree course. P. Smith photo.ANGOLA, Ind. – Albion College cross country coach Hayden Smith, ’70, said his teams had a very good day at the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Jamboree as the women turned in “real good races up front and showed more depth than earlier meets this season” to finish third and the men pulled out close races in the last ¼ mile to eke out a one-point margin over Hope College in the battle for second place.

First-year runner Lauren Kettle (Milford) continued her impressive season, finishing as the fourth runner to complete the women’s race. She posted a time of 23:42.

Albion’s second through fifth runners ran in a 59-second window. Amanda Weaver (Marshall) was 19th overall (24:43), and she was followed by first-year runners Victoria Sochor (Portland), Rachel Derocher (White Lake/Holly), and Megan Wickens (Livonia/Franklin).

The men’s competition came down to the No. 5 runner. Matt Melvin (Bangor) beat Hope’s runner to the finish by three seconds to boost Albion to second in the team standings. Melvin completed the course in 27:39.

At the top of the lineup, sophomores Mitchell Klingler (Coldwater/Bronson) and Paul Lewis (Albion) were separated by two seconds in finishing eighth and ninth, respectively, to the finish line. Klingler’s time was 26:57. Drew Fuentes (Grand Junction/Bangor) and Deion Pruitt (Ann Arbor/Huron) finished 12th and 15th, respectively.

“It will continue to be a close battle with Hope throughout the season,” Smith said.

Albion will travel to Chicago for the Oct. 1 Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational.