Ricks' women capture cross country crown
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
Ranked first in the nation throughout most of the season, the Ricks College women's cross country team won the national championship Nov. 12 at the National Junior College Athletic Association finals in Twin Falls, Idaho.
On a cold, rainy day, the Viking women captured the crown by placing five runners higher than any of the other 22 teams participating. The national title was the first ever for the women's team, now in its eighth year.Team coach Ferron Sonderegger, in only his second year of coaching at the Church-owned college, was named national women's coach of the year, an honor given him by other participating coaches.
Cindy Reeder from the Ricks team placed sixth overall with a time of 18 minutes, 51 seconds on the 5,000-meter course. By comparison, the first-place finisher, Alice Gaines of Brevard College in North Carolina came in with a time of 18:34.
Another Ricks finisher was Debra Jorgensen, who finished 17th, at 19:12. She and Cindy are considered All-American runners, having placed among the top 25 competitors.
Other finishers from the Ricks team were Ginger Van Orman, who placed 28th with a time of 19:41; Stephanie Ward at 35th place with 19:51; and Keysha Walter at 54th with 20:13.
One hundred fifty-two women competed in the national championships, representing 23 teams.
The Ricks runners won their regional competition Oct. 29.
Prior to the regionals, both the men's and women's team held a special testimony meeting, said Cindy Reeder, a freshman from Heber City, Utah. A member of the College Second Stake, 1st Ward, she placed second overall at the regionals and has consistently led her team through the season, competing mainly against four-year schools in Utah, Idaho and Montana.
Team members have refused to let the pressure get to them this year, and prayer is cited as the reason.
"We never miss team prayer," said Keysha Walter of Durango, Colo., one of three sophomores on the team and a Relief Society organist in the Ricks College Second Stake 1st Ward. "And we pray after competing, too."
