Jordan Rasmussen
Published: October 22, 2008

DUBUQUE-The Loras Cross Country team had their only home meet last week. The 25th Dr.Tucker Invite hosted seven women’s teams and five men’s teams. The Loras men and women both placed first in the team competition.

Mary Bridget Corken took first and had her personal record of 21:18 and hopes to better that record come conference.

“Everyone just keeps getting better throughout the season, our 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th girls keep getting better and our second pack are staying together a lot longer, and so we are looking really good.” said Corken.

The course, at the Dubuque soccer complex, helped Corken beat her Pre-Nationals record of 21:58.

The invite is named after a Loras coaching legend and current Loras Sports Camp direction Dr. Tucker.

“Dr. Tucker is a legend at Loras, he brought a lot of tradition to the program, so it’s nice that we could name it after him.” said Corken.

Loras Men

John Fry took an early lead to win the race for the men and senior Ryan Schaefer finished 5th with a big smile, and Alex Eischeid finished behind him scoring 6th for the Duhawks. John Fry’s early lead paid off.

“I have never really led a race like that all by myself so it was a little challenge but it was fun, I enjoyed it, I loved all the fans that came out and cheered us on.” said Fry, a transfer for the Duhawks this season.

Loras now starts to prep for the Iowa Conference Championships in Storm Lake, Iowa on November 1st.

For full results of the women’s race click here

For full results of the men’s race click here

Jordan Rasmussen can be reached at Jordan.Rasmussen@loras.edu

Crystal Klein can be reached at Crystal.Klein@lctv13.com

A cold, rainy, day did not dampen the spirits of the men’s and women’s cross country teams, because this year both teams have high expectations going into the season.

Last year the women came to the brink of a national tournament, and the players are ready to achieve that, this year.

They are coming into the season ranked twentieth in the nation and third in the region.

Mary Bridget Corken, women’s cross country captain, said. “Last year we were six points away from qualifying so its like nothing so I think we’re just really working hard to improve and be our best that we can be and make at the end of the season.”

Head Coach Shultz shares the same aspirations as Corken, “So I expect our women to be competing for the top two in the conference, and a trip to the national championships, which the Loras women have not done in about twelve years.”

The men’s team may come in with less hype.

However,with strong transfers and freshmen,  they are just as determined to make some noise and prove people wrong.

Shultz said, “we just have some new energy this year that I’m excited about, despite losing three of our top seven, we have a team that will finish high er in the conference and higher in the region than any of the teams I’ve had my four years here.”

The men’s team comes into the season embracing their role as a dark horse in the Iowa Conference.

Alex Eischeid, the men’s captain, said, “We’ve got a lot of new faces this year so there’s kinda of a chip on our shoulder we’re going to have.We’re going to have to really come in and make a name for ourselves this year.”

Catch both teams as they race into action this Saturday.

Tim Kelly can be reached at Timothy.Kelly2@loras.edu