NEWS RELEASE - 10/25/03

3 Lynx Headed for National Cross Country Meet

The Lincoln College women's cross country team finished third in the Region 24 meet at Danville this past week-end with Sophomore Christien Taitt leading the way.
 
Taitt ran the muddy course in 21:01, nearly one minute faster than she ran the same course last season when she won the event.  "We gave it everything we had but Danville and ICC were just too tough," said Coach Erin Verbeck.
 
Jenine Mills finished seventh with a time of 22:00 and was followed by Toni Ortega in 12th, Mary Daum in 14th and Betsy Scarpaci in 16th.
 
Clint Wombles was the top runner among the men with a 12th place finish in 27:48.  Coach Verbeck said, "This was Clint's second fastest time of the season on a tough course with less than ideal conditions.  He responded well to the competition and should do well at the National meet Nov. 8."
 
Jordan Gerard finished 20th for the Lynx, followed by Demond Willbourn in 22nd, Ryan Maisenbacher in 24th and Mark Shannahan in 27th.  "It just wasn't our day and our men didn't want it bad enough.  Demond was injured and gave it everything he had.   I am proud of the way he and Clint ran but this was a tough way to end the season."
 
Taitt, Mills and Wombles will compete in the National meet in Lawrence, Ks. on Nov. 8.  Taitt finished 9th in the National event last season to earn All-American honors.   Both Mills and Wombles will be competing in their first National tourney.

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Lincoln College was founded in 1865 as Lincoln University, the only institution of higher education named for Abraham Lincoln during his lifetime. It is a selective, two-year, private, liberal arts college located in Lincoln, Illinois. Lincoln College is designed to prepare a student for university study through a structured, supportive approach to learning. Approximately 89% of Lincoln College graduates transfer immediately to a four-year school where they succeed as well as or better than the native student. Student-teacher ratio at Lincoln College is 13:1 and the average class size is 16 students.