Upper Iowa competed in their first ever GLVC Championship, finishing in 12
th place out of 14 teams in the 6K race. The Peacocks were originally projected to finish 13
th in the tournament in the GLVC Coaches' Preseason Poll.
All five Peacocks finished with their season-high times led by Sophomore
Eryn Sabelka who came in 68
th place with a time of 26:16.30. Sophomore
Mackenzie Rader and senior
Jadyn Schultz finished back-to-back in 71
st and 72
nd place with Rader finishing with a time of 26:26.93 while Schultz was seconds behind her with a time of 26:30.83. Senior
Nora Nouhaili came in 82
nd place completing the race in 27:53.17 while senior
Alaina Sunlin came in 88
th place with a time of 33:51.40. The Peacocks earned a score of 381 finishing one spot below McKendree and one spot above William Jewell who was originally projected to beat them. Schultz was also awarded the GLVC James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award for the first time in her career.
Reigning champions Lewis University finished in first place, with six of their runners finishing in the top ten. Junior Hannah Smrcka came in 1
st place overall with a time of 21:13.23, resulting in her being named the GLVC Runner of the Year. Senior teammates Caroline Pacer-Ryan came in 4
th (21:50.58) and Anna Kozak finished 6
th (21:56.15). Sophomore Kate Guderjan, junior Naylah Allen and sophomore Madilyn Calloway came in 8
th-10
th place.
Drury improved on their 4
th place finish from last season, coming in 2
nd place with three runners finishing in the top 7. Senior Luz Olivera led the way with a 3
rd place finish (21:48.47), junior Bradley Weimer came in 5
th (21:51.32) and senior Zoe Van Dijk came in 7
th (22:04.80).
Southwest Baptist rounded out the top 3, with senior Alexis Barber finishing in 12
th place with a time of 22:23.63.
Missouri S&T sophomore Emma Puetz came in 2
nd place, completing the race in 21:45.56. She had previously been awarded three GLVC Runners of the Week awards this season.