Women score perfect 15 at Spartan Opener

The Cornell College women's cross country team posted a perfect score, and more, during a dominating 2011 debut Thursday in the Spartan Opener at the University of Dubuque Soccer Complex.

The Rams scored the minimum 15 points in running away with the team crown. Head coach Dan Schofer's squad fielded the top eight finishers and secured 12 of the first 15 places at the three-team Iowa Conference meet. Coe took a distant second with 57 points, followed by Dubuque with 72.

"Our women looked strong at Dubuque," said Schofer, whose squad also scored a perfect 15 at last year's event. "This meet has been a good opener for us the past few years, and it was once again a nice chance to put the spikes on and get back into a competitive mindset."

Allie Jagielo got her final season off to an impressive start, taking the individual title by a 15-second margin. The fifth-year senior completed the 3K course in 11 minutes, 43.2 seconds. It was the third year in a row that Jagielo came away victorious at the Spartan Opener.

Jagielo was voted a team co-captain earlier in the week, joining junior two-year letterwinner Leslie Smebak.

"Allie led our top three, who ran very strong and controlled the whole way," Schofer said.

Sophomore runner-up Laura Ettlin also broke the 12-minute mark in 11:58.9. Junior Elise Mead came in third (12:10.9), sophomore Claudia Gonzalez fourth (12:15.9) and sophomore Arden Stewart fifth (12:18.6) to complete Cornell's scoring.

Rounding out Cornell's second pack was Smebak in sixth (12:33.5), Lauren Seeman in seventh (12:37.3) and freshman Hannah Garvey in eighth (12:39.8).

"Claudia Gonzalez and Arden Stewart in particular did a great job of moving up in the second 1500-meter loop," Schofer said. "Like the men, we have some depth this fall. Our goal will be to keep our spread small and to continue to foster friendly competition within the team. Training well and making steady improvements is our main focal point at this stage of the season."

Cornell carries momentum into the Luther All-American Invitational Sept. 10 in Decorah. The women's race begins at 11:15 a.m.