RedTail Cross Country Women Place 8th, Men 19th at NJCAA Championship
Joanna Topham, Alayna Kollasch Named All-Americans
GARDEN CITY, KANSAS–The Hawkeye Community College cross country program capped off its sophomore season with two All-Americans and both teams in the top 20 at the NJCAA Division I Championship on November 10, 2018.
The women's team placed eighth, with sophomores Joanna Topham (22, 20:00.4) and Alayna Kollasch (23, 20:01.3) earning All-American honors. Madison Larsen (66, 21:14.8), Rebecca McDermott (137, 22:11.8), Carly Hasken (142, 22:16.4), Shea Dahlstrom (158, 22:37.4) and Bianca Malone (224, 23:55.2) rounded out the women's roster.
"The women's team really stepped up their game from last year to this year," said head coach Tyler Mulder. "The majority of the year we ran on tough courses, so for nearly everyone to set personal records it was a great year to be a RedTail!"
The RedTail men placed 19th, led by Johnny Smith (90, 28:33.9), who had the highest national finish of any RedTail men's runner in program history. He was followed by Payton Bahl (112, 28:55.2) and Peter Torkleson (113, 28:56.7), with Konner Roth (135, 29:21), Ryan Milikin (168, 29:59.3), Cody Samuelson (216, 31:42.6), and Noah Haynes (255, 33:33.3) rounding out the RedTail roster.
"The men's team finish was highest in program history and nearly everyone set a personal best time," Mulder said. "We ran as a solid pack all season."