PELLA, Iowa – For the fifth consecutive year, the Wartburg College Knights men’s and women’s teams sweep the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Cross Country Championships. Both teams won with an individual win by
Christopher Collet in the men’s race and
Lexi Brown who crossed the finish line first in the women’s race. The team titles were the fifth in a row for the women and sixth-straight for the men.
With all five runners in the top 10, Wartburg’s team score on the men’s side was 27 points. Central totaled 63 points to finish in second place while Loras finished in third with 76 points. The
Collet of Wartburg covered the 8,000-meter men’s course in 24 minutes, 43.1 seconds. He pulled away from
Spencer Moon, from Simpson, in the final leg who crossed in second place in a time of 24:28.9. This is Collet’s second consecutive A-R-C Championship title. Central’s
Caleb Silver was third in a time of 24:54.4. Wartburg’s
Jack Kinzer took fourth (25:08.3) and
Sam Schmitz was fifth (25:09.8).
Jacob Green (8th - 25:20.4),
Shane Erb (9th - 25:20.9),
Lance Sobaski (10th - 25:24.9),
Tyler Schermerhorn (11th - 25:32.2),
Isaiah Hammerand (13th - 25:42.7), and
Michael Goodenbour (14th - 25:43.0) round of the Knights All-Conference performers.
Wartburg and Central women both placed four scorers in the top 10. Wartburg came out on top with 27 points and Central recorded 37 points to finish in second. Simpson posted 92 points to finish in third.
Brown of Wartburg ran the 6,000-meter women’s course in 21 minutes, 57.8. This is Brown’s first time winning the conference championship. Brown just nearly beat out runner-up
Megan Johnson of Central, who ran the course in a time of 22:00.3. Joining Brown on the All-Conference Team for Wartburg is
Shaelyn Hostager (4th - 22:12.3),
Ellie Meyer (5th - 22:14.4),
Aubrie Fisher (6th - 22:14.5),
Haley Meyer (11th - 22:58.9), and
Addy Carlson (14th - 22:58.9).
Head coach
Ryan Chapman and his coaching staff was voted Coaching Staff of the Year for the men. This is his sixth honor in a row as Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
Joe Dunham and his staff were voted Coaching Staff of the Year for the women. This is his first Coaching Staff of the Year honor.
| 2023 A-R-C Men’s Cross Country All-Conference |
| Place |
Name |
School |
Time |
| 1. |
Christopher Collet |
Wartburg |
24:43.1 |
| 2. |
Spencer Moon |
Simpson |
24:48.9 |
| 3. |
Caleb Silver |
Central |
24:54.4 |
| 4. |
Jack Kinzer |
Wartburg |
25:08.3 |
| 5. |
Sam Schmitz |
Wartburg |
25:09.8 |
| 6. |
Julian Watson |
Loras |
25:11.3 |
| 7. |
Noah Jorgenson |
Central |
25:17.3 |
| 8. |
Jacob Green |
Wartburg |
25:20.4 |
| 9. |
Shane Erb |
Wartburg |
25:20.9 |
| 10. |
Lance Sobaski |
Wartburg |
25:24.9 |
| 11. |
Tyler Schermerhorn |
Wartburg |
25:32.2 |
| 12. |
Adam Sylvia |
Central |
25:36.7 |
| 13. |
Isaiah Hammerand |
Wartburg |
25:42.7 |
| 14. |
Michael Goodenbour |
Wartburg |
25:43.0 |
| 15. |
Adam Koller |
Luther |
25:47.7 |
| 16. |
Ean Warrick |
Simpson |
25:49.5 |
| 17. |
Ryan Harvey |
Loras |
25:53.0 |
| 18. |
James Murray |
Simpson |
25:54.0 |
| 19. |
Jacob Belha |
Loras |
25:56.6 |
| 20. |
Eric Rutherford |
Loras |
25:58.1 |
| 2023 A-R-C Women’s Cross Country All-Conference |
| Place |
Name |
School |
Time |
| 1. |
Lexi Brown |
Wartburg |
21:57.8 |
| 2. |
Megan Johnson |
Central |
22:00.3 |
| 3. |
Caroline McMartin |
Central |
22:02.7 |
| 4. |
Shaelyn Hostager |
Wartburg |
22:12.3 |
| 5. |
Ellie Meyer |
Wartburg |
22:14.4 |
| 6. |
Aubrie Fisher |
Wartburg |
22:14.5 |
| 7. |
Addy Parrott |
Central |
22:17.7 |
| 8. |
Kira Hooper |
Central |
22:29.5 |
| 9. |
Lara Kallem |
Simpson |
22:40.5 |
| 10. |
Gabby Thomas |
Nebraska Wesleyan |
22:48.4 |
| 11. |
Haley Meyer |
Wartburg |
22:58.9 |
| 12. |
Teghan Booth |
Simpson |
23:03.1 |
| 13. |
Teah Miller |
Luther |
23:03.2 |
| 14. |
Addy Carlson |
Wartburg |
23:10.0 |
| 15. |
Frankie Chaidez |
Loras |
23:23.0 |
| 16. |
Ashley Rockhold |
Simpson |
23:23.4 |
| 17. |
Sara Goodenbour |
Central |
23:24.9 |
| 18. |
Becca Diddia |
Loras |
23:28.5 |
| 19. |
Peyton Steffen |
Central |
23:29.4 |
| 20. |
Leah Bontrager |
Central |
23:33.8 |
| 2023 Men’s A-R-C Cross Country Team Results |
| Place |
School |
Points |
| 1. |
Wartburg |
27 |
| 2. |
Central |
63 |
| 3. |
Loras |
76 |
| 4. |
Simpson |
94 |
| 5. |
Luther |
138 |
| 6. |
Dubuque |
172 |
| 7. |
Nebraska Wesleyan |
223 |
| 8. |
Coe |
224 |
| 9. |
Buena Vista |
238 |
| 2023 Women’s A-R-C Cross Country Team Results |
| Place |
School |
Points |
| 1. |
Wartburg |
27 |
| 2. |
Central |
37 |
| 3. |
Simpson |
92 |
| 4. |
Loras |
116 |
| 5. |
Luther |
118 |
| 6. |
Nebraska Wesleyan |
154 |
| 7. |
Dubuque |
222 |
| 8. |
Buena Vista |
242 |
| 9. |
Coe |
261 |
The 2023 NCAA Division III Cross Country Midwest Regional will be held by Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa at the Max Cross Country Course Saturday, November 11. The NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship will be held at Big Spring High School in Newville, Pennsylvania Saturday, November 18.
