The Webster University men and women's cross-country teams made across the board improvements at the H.W. Wright Classic in Decatur, IL, on October 16. Numerous Webster runners set season-best times as two freshmen finished in the top five in the women's race.
Freshmen Jessica Parkman (Peru HS, IN) and Jane McKibben (Lindbergh HS, STL) finshed fourth and fifth on the women's side. Parkman ran a season-best 26 minutes and 22 seconds, and McKibben finished at 26:37. Parkman and McKibben led for much of the way before being overtaken by a trio of runners late in the race.
Senior Candace Barry (McCluer South HS, STL) ran a season-best 28:44, as did Francee VanGennip (JR, Woodland HS, MO) at 30:20 and Jenny Venegoni (SR, Bishop DuBourg HS, STL) at 31:32. The women finished second out of a field of five teams with 29 runners participating.
Freshman Rob Hohensee (Buffalo HS, MO) led the men's team with a season-best 29:50, and a 12th place finish in a field of 34 runners. Blake Harris (FR, O'Fallon HS, IL) was next at 30:20. David Koppelmann (FR, Owensville HS, MO), Tony Morales (SR, Parkway West HS, STL), and Aaron Oberneufmann (FR, Mt. Olive HS, IL) at 32:23, followed, all with season-best times as well.
"It was very exciting to see our two freshmen women up front, competing to win the race," said Coach Dusty Lopez. "The hilly, tough terrain provided a challenge on a cold and windy day. The men ran a much tighter pack, one through five. The race provided competition very close to what we will face in the conference championships."
The teams runs in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships on October 31 at Greenville, IL.