Covenant News - NPU Finishes Third in Cross Country

Covenant News

NPU Finishes Third in Cross Country

CHICAGO, IL (September 16, 2003) - Grace Conrad placed sixth individually as the North Park University (NPU) women's cross country team finished third of nine teams during last Saturday's Ted Hedstrand Invitational at Legion Park.

Conrad was clocked in 19:35.84 for five kilometers (3.1 miles) while Chicago State University's Abidemi Charles won the race in 19:03.03. Becky Gritter was timed in 20:20.45 and finished 11th with Allison Weller (21:05) and Kari Thompson (21:17) were 19th and 20th respectively. Kari Walker was the final scoring participant for the Vikings, running a 22:42.70 for 34th. NPU had a team total of 79 points, behind team champion Illinois Wesleyan University (38) and North Central College (45).

Conrad's performance and the overall effort of the women's team pleased new coach Emma Sandberg, who was hired in June. "Conrad was in the top 15 in the conference last year and her goal is to finish in the top 10," she said. "Becky (Gritter) could also be up there. But the women's team is looking good. It's been great working with them. They're working hard and they're a lot of fun."

The men's team placed sixth out of 11 teams at Saturday's invitational with 157 points as North Central College took team honors with 27 points. (In cross-country competitions the team with the lowest score wins.) Karl Hench placed 24th with a time of 29:10 for eight kilometers (nearly five miles) and Erik Shearer (30:03) and Paul Farnum (30:32) were 33rd and 36th as the Vikings' top three runners. Kevin Licht of North Central College ran a 26:31.87 to win the individual title.

NPU will compete at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Saturday.

In other NPU sports activities last week:

Despite two interceptions by senior defensive back Scott Souza, North Park's football team lost a 41-7 non-league contest to the University of Chicago last Saturday at Elmhurst College's Langhorst Field. Souza's second interception helped the Vikings score their lone touchdown, a 1-yard run by quarterback Phil DeWald. But the University of Chicago's Sam Owens ran for 178 yards and three touchdowns, including a 52-yard run early in the third period, to lead the Maroons to victory in their season opener. Harold Robinson recovered a fumble and Alfredo Cruz had seven solo tackles for NPU's defense. DeWald injured an ankle in the second quarter and did not return. Replacement Mike Haehn was 9 for 26 for 101 yards passing. Sherman Gant had five catches for 39 yards to lead NPU receivers. Running backs Dante Britten and Josh Greunewald totaled 60 and 45 yards respectively as NPU fell to 1-1 overall. The Vikings play a 1 p.m. non-conference game at Eureka College on Saturday.
The men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Sunday to fall to 3-1-2 overall. Matt Moncada gave the Vikings a lead at the 66:27 mark. However, the Warhawks scored twice in the final eight minutes of play to earn the comeback victory. The Vikings had tied Edgewood College of Madison, Wisconsin, 1-1 on September 10. Coach John Born's team hosts Milwaukee School of Engineering at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
In women's soccer, NPU lost 2-0 at Wisconsin-Whitewater Sunday to fall to 2-3 on the season. The Vikings play their College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin opener at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Wheaton College. NPU hosts Maranatha Baptist at 4 p.m. Friday in its home opener.
The NPU volleyball team lost 30-22, 30-25, and 30-28 at Judson College in Elgin last Thursday. The 3-6 Vikings host Moody Bible Institute in a 7 p.m. non-league match tonight. Coach Susan Zimmer's team travels to central Illinois over the weekend to play at Illinois Wesleyan and Millikin University on Friday and Saturday respectively to open conference play.

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