Jacobs earns trip to NCAA Championships

Cornell College will have a runner representing its cross country program at the NCAA Division III Championships this weekend for the fourth year in a row.

Senior Ben Jacobs punched his ticket to the national meet with a seventh-place finish at the Central Region Men's Championships Saturday at Max Cross Country Course.

The top seven individuals from each region not part of a qualifying team earned berths to nationals. Jacobs was fourth among that group of qualifiers, securing a spot with one of the best races of his career.

Jacobs gained all-region status for the second time with a top-35 overall finish. He took 24th at the 2009 regional meet, after missing the cut last fall.

"What a day for Ben Jacobs," Cornell head coach Dan Schofer said. "He ran like a man possessed and battled hard from gun to tape."

Jacobs followed the path to nationals paved by 2008 women's competitor Rachelle Hawkins and two-time qualifier Andrew Tobben (2009 and 2010). Prior to Hawkins' appearance, Cornell did not have a national qualifier since 1993. Hard work and lofty goals helped Jacobs extend the program's current streak.

"(Ben) is a runner who didn't break 10:10 for 3200 in high school, but had ambitions from my first conversation with him as a prospective student that he wanted to be a national-level runner," Schofer said. "His hard work, patience and determination have made that a reality. It is fitting that he'll conclude his cross country career at the national meet."

Jacobs covered the eight-kilometer course in 25:29.1, less than five seconds out of the top five. He clocked the second-quickest mark among entrants from the nine Iowa Conference schools - Coe's Kyle Heineman was fourth in 25:21.6. Saturday's field featured 185 runners from 27 teams.

Jacobs, who took sixth at the IIAC Championships Oct. 29, led the Rams to a 15th-place team showing. Cornell totaled 408 points.

Senior Chase Nowak, a two-time all-region performer, saw his fine cross country career end with a 71st-place finish in 26:59. He was third at the IIAC meet two weeks ago.

"It was a tough day for Chase," Schofer said. "He and Ben ran nearly every step together over the past four years, and it is a bitter pill to swallow that he had an uncharacteristically off day at regionals. He deserves to run at nationals with Ben. If there's one thing I know about Chase, it's that he is resilient and will bounce back this track season."

Cornell's five regional scorers were all seniors. Adam Rooyakkers finished 87th (27:18), Chris Stadler 112th (27:41) and David Kuhlmann 131st (28:14). Sophomore CJ Horan came in 140th (28:36) and freshman Charlie Mesimore was 173rd (31:53).

"As a team, our men did not have our best day at regionals, but I don't fault anyone's effort," Schofer said. "We have a great group of young men, and I look forward to seeing what they can accomplish this winter and spring on the track."

Off to nationals - Jacobs is among 56 individuals selected to participate in the NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country Championships, hosted by UW-Oshkosh Saturday, Nov. 19 at Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winneconne, Wis. The men's race begins at 12 p.m. (Iowa time).

Jacobs joins Coe's Heineman, Simpson's Ryan Edwardson and Central's Eli Horton as individual qualifiers from the IIAC. Loras was the lone IIAC men's team to make the national field.

The top 35 finishers are awarded all-America status. Tobben was Cornell's last all-American, placing 28th in 2009.