Stellar Season Ends With Third Place Finish

Results

(11/18/06) LOUISVILLE, Ky. - All-American Sara Powell placed 7th overall with a time of 18:11.85 to help Concordia to a 3rd place finish at the NAIA Women's Cross Country Championships at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park.

Powell led an Eagle contingency that posted a team total of 143 points for its best team finish since the 2000 team captured the team national championship. In total, the Eagles scored using two seniors, one sophomore and two freshmen.

"Sara has shown so much growth from her first race up to nationals," said head coach Martin Gonzalez, whose team posted its 5th Top 10 finish in the past 6 seasons. "She made up her mind that she was going to lead this team on and off the course."

The second runner across for the Eagles was freshman Danielle Varela. Her score of 26 points was good enough for 40th overall after crossing the line in 18:52.90. She was joined in the top 50 overall by senior Sandra Prado, who scored in 33rd position with a time of 18:55.75.

Another freshman, Alma Escobar, was 4th across the line for the Eagles, cementing their place as one of the early favorites for 2007. Escobar scored 37 points by crossing the line in 19:00.50. Wrapping up the scoring was Jennifer Bowles, who scored in 42nd spot with a time of 19:05.45.

A third freshmen helped contribute to the total team effort was Jackie Castelazo was the last of the seven runners to cross the line. Her displaced scoring total of 49 points came with a time of 19:17.00. Senior Natalie Gattrell capped an outstanding Concordia career as the 6th Eagle runner with a time of 19:15.40 at 67th overall.

"I am so amazed and proud of how the young Eagles performed at nationals. We have had between one and three runners do very well at nationals in the past, but this time all seven ran awesome."