Women’s team looks to continue momentum

The Cornell College women's cross country team hit its stride late last fall, capped by a program-best 11th-place finish at the Central Region Championships.

The Rams look poised to build off that performance with an experienced squad comprised of eight multi-year letterwinners. Five starters are back from the 2010 regional lineup. And that group does not include fifth-year senior leader Allie Jagielo, who was granted a medical hardship for cross country after missing a chunk of last season.

"We have a strong group of returning runners on the women's side," said sixth-year head coach Dan Schofer. "Adding Allie back into the mix will give us a huge boost. She has had a terrific summer and is primed for a great season. She and the rest of our runners made huge strides during the track season, and as a group, I think we are ready to take it to the next level this fall."

The season gets underway Sept. 1 at the University of Dubuque Triangular, involving Coe and the host Spartans.

Jagielo was the team's No. 1 runner the past two years while claiming a pair of meet titles. She competed in the team's first three meets last fall before going down with an injury. Jagielo returned to the track last spring and took second in the 3000 steeplechase at the Iowa Conference Outdoor Championships.

Junior Elise Mead was one of several Rams who emerged last season. She took 30th at the conference meet and led the team with a 54th-place finish at regionals.

"Elise had a fantastic track season, setting school records at 5k and 10k," Schofer said. "She has the motivation and ability to be a top runner for us."

Cornell's returning starting lineup includes sophomores Laura Ettlin and Arden Stewart, junior Leslie Smebak and senior Laura Lindsay. Ettlin scored a team-best 20th-place finish at the IIAC Championships. Lindsay took 24th at conference, Stewart 48th.

"Laura Ettlin also looks good so far. She is a stronger runner than she was a year ago," Schofer said. "The culture of our team is extremely strong. We have a tight-knit and supportive group who really care about each other and about the success of our program."

Among the team's 11 returning letterwinners are seniors Ellen Mariano and Hannah Cargill, juniors Maria Helgeson and Lauren Seemann and sophomore Claudia Gonzalez.

"As we start the season, we realize that we have significant work to do," Schofer said. "Our entire team is focused on simply improving from week to week and running our best at conference at regionals."