Extreme challenge for Arch

When Katherine Arch crossed the finish line of her first marathon, in 90-degree heat and 100 percent humidity, she had one thought.

'I didn't die,” said Arch, a former track athlete at Iowa City High who will be a junior in the fall at Indiana Wesleyan.

Arch finished seventh in the marathon at the NAIA Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala. last month, earning All-American honors. When she crossed the finish line in 3 hours, 16 minutes and 44 seconds, she was disappointed at first, thinking she placed ninth and one spot out of All-American status.

Her coach ran up and hugged her, giving her the news.

'The wall exists,” she said, but 'you can survive.”

Arch experienced some weather extremes during her qualifying and national races.

After the cross country season, she qualified for the marathon by running in the Q Elite Half Marathon in Grand Rapids, Mich., finishing in 1:29:25 in 7-degree temperatures with black ice. It actually was her second 13.1-mile qualifier - she also ran it her freshman year, but her coach didn't want her to attempt a marathon yet - and she set a personal best by four minutes.

She decided this was going to be her year to attempt the full 26.2-mile race.

Everything seemed to come together, she said, in Gulf Shores. She had the support from her teammates and coach to keep her going while others were dropping out because of the heat. Three women and 15 men did not finish the race.

She now is focused on a good cross country season in the fall and is looking forward to future marathons, as well as half-marathons and 10ks.