Comets cap campaign with conference-meet runner-up finish

Tuesday, November 12, 2019
The Cottey Comet cross country team is also smiles with their conference championship meet runner-up trophy in tow.
Submitted photo

An exceptional season ended on a high-note for the Cottey Comet cross country team.

In just their second season of competition at the NAIA level, the Comets jetted to a runner-up finish at the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) conference championship meet — hosted by Haskell Indian Nations University on Saturday, at Billy Mills Trail in Lawrence, Kansas.

While it was their second season overall in the NAIA, it was their first competing in the conference meet, as they were not eligible for postseason competition in year one.

Cottey was paced by freshman Ella Page's seventh-place showing — as the Byron, Minnesota product clocked a 5-kilometer time of 21:21.

Cottey runners trailing Page were Deanndria Shields, eighth-place (21:26) ; Martina Ramirez, 10th-place (21:54); Karina Gchachu, 11th (21:59); and Cheyanne Porter, 14th (23:06).

Additionally Page, Shields, and Ramirez collected All-Conference accolades for their Top 10 showings.

"We (knew) the only way we were going to be successful is if we ran as a pack, and pushed each individual in practice, and at meets," explained Cottey coach, Tony Skiles. "(They) closed the gaps between each other, forming a close-knit pack with each race they ran this year."

Added Skiles: "The future is bright, with every member returning next fall. And, we will be able to build on the strong foundation we created this year."

While the team portion of Cottey's campaign concluded on Saturday — Page, Shields, and Ramirez will have one more opportunity to showcase their talents individually, as they qualified for the NAIA National Championship meet.

The marquee NAIA event is slated for Nov. 22, at Fort Vancouver Historic National Site, in Vancouver, Washington.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: