Iowa Wesleyan’s Lucas, Garnsey qualify for NAIA nationals

LAKELAND, Fla. — A pair of Iowa Wesleyan cross-country runners are off to nationals after a successful trip to the Continental Athletic Conference championships in Florida this weekend.

Tiger sophomore Logan Lucas and senior Lilly Garnsey both sneaked into the field by finishing Top-4 among non-championship teams in their respective races.

Lee is the first national qualifier on the men’s side since Mark McKeown in 1995. Lucas finished sixth overall in the race, crossing the tape in 27 minutes, 52.89 seconds.

Florida College won the meet with 40 points. Lucas was the final non-champion transfer spot, beating eighth-place Ravi Reed of USC-Beaufort by over 15 seconds.

As a team, the Tiger men scored 103 points, for fifth place. The only other Tiger runner in the Top-20 was Daron Jackson, who crossed in 29:47.80.

Former Mt. Pleasant preps Ryan Hutchinson and Gannon McNamme were 28th and 29th respectively in the race. In his last collegiate race, Hutchinson finished in 32:06.18, and McNamee finished in 32:23.28.

Kenny Tucker was right behind his two teammates, finishing 30th, in 32:44.60. Jabez Rivers took 37th, in 10:22.32. Marlon Brown finished 39th, in 37:48.99.

Much like Lee, Garnsey advanced to nationals in the final available spot, taking seventh in the women’s race, in 21:58.72. The junior was the fourth non-team champion, edging USC-Beaufort’s Cydney Stevenson (21:59.34) by just over six-tenths of a second.

As a team, the Tiger girls took fourth place, scoring 99 points.

Finishing just off the national bubble was Faith Younce, who crossed the tape in 22:07.29 for ninth. Allison Morris was the Tigers’ third Top-20 runner, crossing in 22:52.18.

Lidia Pamos finished 35th overall, crossing the tape in 30:19.43. Carrie Staal was 41st, in 33:20.71. Teya Hawkins finished 42nd, in 33:35.37.

A couple of Tigers were also given ‘Champions of Character’ awards at the meet. Tucker and Garnsey were both honored.

The 2022 National Championship Meet will take place on Nov. 18, in Tallahassee, Florida. The men will run at 8:30 a.m., with the women running at 9:30 a.m.

MEN’S TEAM SCORES

1. Florida College 40

2. Haslekk Indian Nations 47

3. Florida National 88

4. USC-Beaufort 90

5. Iowa Wesleyan 103

6. Washington Adventist 173

7. Fisher 203

WOMEN’S TEAM SCORES

1. Haskell Indian Nations 28

2. Florida National 68

3. Florida College 75

4. Iowa Wesleyan 99

5. USC-Beaufort 120

6. Washington Adventist 171

7. Fisher 177