By Gabe Bain | Echo
The men's and women's cross country teams finished seventh and third, respectively, at the 2012 Indiana Intercollegiate Championships Saturday. The 2012 Indiana Intercollegiate Championships, also known as Little State, took place in Terre Haute, Ind.
The event featured runners from schools of NCAA Divisions I, II and III, as well as NAIA. Nineteen schools represented for the men's meet, and 18 were present for the women's meet.
Taylor's women's team, currently ranked No. 21 in the nation, showed a strong performance at the meet, finishing as the top NAIA school and only below two NCAA Division II schools.
"We ran a very smart race on a hilly course," said women's cross country head coach Quinn White. "We were very patient. To finish third in that is quite an accomplishment."
The Lady Trojans earned all-state honors by placing four runners in the top 20.
Finishing fourth for Taylor was sophomore Jenna Norris, placing No. 17 with a time of 19:38. Freshman Jane Hawks finished 16th with a time of 19:34.
Finishing second for the Trojans was sophomore Allison Steinbeck. She completed the race in 19:30, which was good enough for a No. 14 place finish.
Sophomore Elaine Schmeltz finished with the best time for Taylor, 19:24, which put her at the No. 12 spot.
The men's team also fared well during the meet. Sophomore Ethan Evans, finishing third for the Trojans, completed the race with a 27:25 time, giving him a No. 33 place finish.
Freshman Josh Vahle finished No. 30 overall, second for Taylor, with a time of 27:18. Sophomore Zach Warner led the pack with a No. 27 place finish and a time of 27:11.
"It was a good day for us," said men's cross country coach Ted Bowers. "That was a fair representation of where we are."
Bowers added that the team's training will change from extensive mileage to fewer miles and higher quality in preparing for the upcoming meet.
The Trojans will head down to Kentucky to compete in the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic at noon on Sept. 29.
"This Louisville meet prepares us for the future," White said. "If we are blessed to get to nationals we've got experience of being in a big race."
