IU posts average times at Pre-Nationals

The IU men’s and women’s cross country teams were left scratching their heads after placing in the middle and back of the pack respectively this weekend at the Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute. \nJust one race before the Big Ten Championships on Oct. 28, the Hoosiers were left with more questions than answers after the men’s team placed 18th and the women’s team placed 34th.\nIU coach Ron Helmer had a conflicted reaction after then’s race. \n“I wasn’t really excited, but I was not overly upset,” Helmer said. “Our training (has been) going well, but we didn’t race at the level we could.”\nHelmer said because of where the women are now, he thought they ran about the same as their male counterparts.\n“(The women) probably ran an equivalent race (to the men),” he said. “The previous two weeks is the best workout we have ever had, and hopefully, if we rest, we’ll take a step forward (as the) women’s goals are modest.”\nThe men’s team was led by sophomore Jordan Kyle, who finished in 62nd place with a time of 24 minutes, 14 seconds. Kyle’s finishing position came in stark contrast to his two wins in the first three races of the season. \nHelmer attributed the dropoff to fatigue.\n“Jordan is training well, but he may not be rested enough,” he said. \nIU’s six other runners placed between 89th and 170th place.\nOne of those runners was junior Timothy McLeod, who placed 93rd and said afterward he was unsatisfied with the way he ran and that he will need to improve for postseason competition.\n“Personally, it was not a good race for me, and I will have to step it up at the Big Ten in two weeks,” McLeod said.\nOn the women’s side, sophomore Sarah Pease paced IU, finishing 119th with a time of 21 minutes, 58 seconds.\nHelmer said Pease’s time was encouraging, as it marked the best time she has ever run in a collegiate event.\nFollowing Pease was junior Kristina Trcka, who placed 170th and said afterward she felt OK with the run even though it was not as fast as her time last year. \n“I was about 13 seconds slower than last year, but I am in better shape, so it was a good race,” Trcka said.\nRounding out the field for the women were five other runners who placed between 194th and 246th place. \nLooking ahead to the Big Ten Championships, Helmer said the men’s and women’s teams will need to stay in shape to be more competitive there. \n“We have done a lot of work and it is just a matter of putting together a good solid workout so our legs are there when we need them,” he said.