This past Friday the Iowa Track and Field Club opened their cross country season at the Dutch Invite hosted by Central College in Pella, IA, setting six new top ten club performances in the process. One of the few dedicated cross country courses in the state, Central XC Course is a small looping course with a wide starting chute that takes athletes up a series of hills through woods and open fields. It would have been hard to ask for better conditions for the first meet of the year – temperatures in the low 60’s with a decent breeze made for some ideal racing.
Savannah Bastiaans opened the afternoon with a 22:54 in the Women’s 5000 meters, placing 51st and finding herself just outside the top ten performances in club history.
The men were lead by Chris King, earning an 18th place finish in the Men’s 6000 meters. His 19:52 finish was the 2nd fastest in club history. Isaiah Hill followed shortly after in 31st with a time of 20:17, the 3rd fastest mark in club history. Chris Spahn’s 20:39 earned him a 38th place finish and 4th all-time on the club record board. Nick Simpson and Brady Benoit rounded out the men’s top five with their 77th and 79th place finishes in 23:45 and 24:12. And while not scoring for the squad, Mick Flannery’s 24:16 earned him the 10th overall spot on the club record board. The men scored 150 points and finished 6th among eight teams, losing a tiebreaker for 5th with Grand View.
The Iowa Track and Field Club will compete again next Saturday, September 13th at the Fighting Bee Invite hosted by St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA.
Final Results:
Women's 5000 Meters
52. Savannah Bastiaans - 22:54
Men's 6000 Meters
18. Chris King - 19:52 (2nd all time)
31. Isaiah Hill - 20:17 (3rd all time)
38. Chris Spahn - 20:39 (4th all time)
77. Nick Simpson - 23:45 (8th all time)
79. Brady Benoit - 24:12 (9th all time)
80. Mick Flannery - 24:16 (10th all time)
86. Dane Butler - 24:50
90. Alec Melendez - 25:49
92. Payton Mizer - 26:17