|
Beyer to compete at NCAA National Meet Release Date:
Nov. 19, 2008
MONMOUTH, Ill. —
For the first time in the history of
women’s cross country at Monmouth College, the Fighting Scots will
be represented at the NCAA Division III National Meet.
Sophomore Mary Kate Beyer
(East Peoria, Ill./East Peoria) earned a berth in the meet at
Hanover, Ind., with a seventh place finish at last weekend’s Midwest
Regional in Rock Island. Beyer set the school record for a 6K race,
clocking a 23:08.9, bettering her previous time on the Saukie Golf
Course by more than a minute.
“Mary Kate prepares herself
well for big races,” said coach Roger Haynes. “She’s steadily gotten
faster as the season progresses, so she’s set herself up well for
this weekend.”
Named All-Region a year ago,
Beyer would need to place in the top 35 of the 280-runner field at
Hanover to become the Fighting Scots’ first cross country
All-American since Zach Barr finished third in 2004. The talented
runner enters the meet with increased foot speed, an asset developed
from her freshman to sophomore year.
“She’s done much better in her
training,” praised Haynes. “Her mile time last weekend was the
fastest she’s ever run. She was great in her last mile, the best
she’s ever been.”
Beyer is expected to be better
on the rolling national course than she was in October. Beyer logged
her slowest time of the season on that course on a hot day in
Indiana. That was the only time this season the Scots ran on
back-to-back weekends, contributing to her sub-par performance.
Beyer will compete on back-to-back weekends again this week and will
take the same training approach as last week.
“We’ll go at it in much the
same way,” said Haynes. “She’ll run a hard workout Tuesday, a medium
workout on Wednesday, then rest on Thursday and Friday. ‘Rest’ for
her means she’ll run five miles each day, but at a slower pace.”
At Beyer’s current pace, the
Scots expect Beyer to make a few return trips to the national meet
and continue to etch her name in the record books.
Men's Cross Country |
Women's Cross Country
|
