Individual Results (PDF).
Team Results (PDF).
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – Behind a 17th place finish from true freshman Courtney Calka (Livonia, Mich.-Stevenson), the Eastern Michigan University women's cross country team finished 16th overall at the 2009 Great Lakes Regional Saturday, Nov. 14, in Bloomington, Ind.
The Fighting Irish from the University of Notre Dame claimed the Great Lakes Regional title, finishing first overall with just 94 team points. Michigan State University's Emily MacLeod won the individual title with a time of 20:42.70.
Calka continued to add to her already impressive freshman campaign, as she was the first EMU harrier to cross the finish line, as her 5:47 pace led her to a 17th finish with a time of 21:33.08. With the finish, Calka earns All-Region honors for the first time in her career.
"[Courtney] had another outstanding day and she got out with the leaders and ran aggressively the entire race," said EMU Head Coach Sue Parks. "Making All-Region is a huge achievement in her first regional race. I am very pleased with her season. You couldn't have asked for anything more from a freshman."
Sophomore Natalie Webb (Allen Park, Mich.-Woodhaven) was the second EMU harrier to finish, as her time of 22:42.26 (6:06 pace) was good for 78th place.
Freshman Rachel Quaintance (White Lake, Mich.-Walled Lake Northern) and sophomore Rachel Hollinger-Janzen (Goshen, Ind.-Goshen) were the next pair of Eagle finishers, as they placed 83rd and 85th overall, respectively.
True freshman Tiffany Kincaid (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston) placed 124th overall with a time of 23:26.70 (6:18 pace), while senior Jackie Ellis (Lebanon, Ohio-Lebanon-Hope College) finished 160th 24:14.27 (6:30 pace).
Junior Beverly Elcock (Fort Wayne, Ind.-Northrop) was nursing an injured knee and although she competed, finishing 187th overall, she was not running in her normal spot.
"Teamwise, it cost us a lot of points not having [Elcock] in her usual spot," Parks said. "But I am pleased that the team took a huge step forward this season and we hope to use that momentum to make another big jump next fall."
