2008 Woodie Awards
Burning the trail
California heat takes toll on Jennies, Mules
Michael Jefferies
Issue date: 12/8/05 Section: Sports
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The competition wasn't the only thing that was hot when the Mules and Jennies cross country teams competed in the NCAA-II National Race in Pomona, Calif.
The weather may have played a part in the teams' struggles at the championships.
"When we left Warrensburg it was about 40 degrees," said Mules' runner Jarod Wall. "When we got to Pomona, it was in the mid 90's."
Head cross country coach Kirk Pedersen and the teams had high expectations heading into the championships, but fell short in the end.
"It was a tough meet for us," Pedersen said. "We had high expectations and we couldn't meet them."
The 90-degree weather helped slow down many runners and it was something the teams weren't quite prepared for.
"I didn't really feel like I was getting too hot," said Jennies' runner Danielle Nagel. "It made me nervous while I was running though because people kept dropping out of the race."
The afternoon heat was causing runners to not only drop out of the race, but many athletes were actually dropping to the ground.
"The top girl in our division literally dropped right in front of me and they had to drag her off," Nagel said. "It was making me pretty sick."
Positives
Though the team didn't meet expectations, the Jennies placed 14th overall while the Mules came away with a 22nd place finish.
"[The Jennies] competed pretty well," Pedersen said. "We got there on team effort and we ran with some good effort."
Nagel, who finished 43rd overall in the women's race, was the first Jenny to cross the finish line.
"She's been running well this year," Pedersen said. "She's really come on late in the year after overcoming an injury that held her out of some early tournaments."
Wall has been the Mules' most consistent runner all year and he again led the Mules to the finish line as he placed 64th overall in the men's competition.
"I wasn't really pleased with it at all," Wall said. "We weren't very good as a team or individually. It just wasn't our day."
The weather may have played a part in the teams' struggles at the championships.
"When we left Warrensburg it was about 40 degrees," said Mules' runner Jarod Wall. "When we got to Pomona, it was in the mid 90's."
Head cross country coach Kirk Pedersen and the teams had high expectations heading into the championships, but fell short in the end.
"It was a tough meet for us," Pedersen said. "We had high expectations and we couldn't meet them."
The 90-degree weather helped slow down many runners and it was something the teams weren't quite prepared for.
"I didn't really feel like I was getting too hot," said Jennies' runner Danielle Nagel. "It made me nervous while I was running though because people kept dropping out of the race."
The afternoon heat was causing runners to not only drop out of the race, but many athletes were actually dropping to the ground.
"The top girl in our division literally dropped right in front of me and they had to drag her off," Nagel said. "It was making me pretty sick."
Positives
Though the team didn't meet expectations, the Jennies placed 14th overall while the Mules came away with a 22nd place finish.
"[The Jennies] competed pretty well," Pedersen said. "We got there on team effort and we ran with some good effort."
Nagel, who finished 43rd overall in the women's race, was the first Jenny to cross the finish line.
"She's been running well this year," Pedersen said. "She's really come on late in the year after overcoming an injury that held her out of some early tournaments."
Wall has been the Mules' most consistent runner all year and he again led the Mules to the finish line as he placed 64th overall in the men's competition.
"I wasn't really pleased with it at all," Wall said. "We weren't very good as a team or individually. It just wasn't our day."