AD3I Names 2009 All-Independent Mens and Womens Cross Country Teams, Cuba & Pivarunas Honored
KANSAS CITY, MO – For the fifth year in a row, harriers from Nebraska Wesleyan University earned most of the major honors as the All-Independent Cross Country teams were announced today by the Association of Division III Independents.
Nebraska Wesleyan's Jackie Spelts, a senior from Burwell, Neb., was named the female runner of the year for the second consecutive year. Spelts ran a 22:22.6 (6K) to place ninth overall at the 2009 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships November 21 in Cleveland. Spelts helped the Prairie Wolves finish 12th in the team competition with 365 team points. She finished third at the NCAA Central Regional (21:43.7 6K) and helped the NWU women to a second-place team finish at the qualifying event.
Nebraska Wesleyan's top male runner, Logan Watley, led the Prairie Wolves to their 13th straight appearance at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships to mark the fifth longest streak in the nation. The senior from Lincoln, Neb., finished 88th at the NCAA's in a time of 26.40. The Prairie Wolves placed 27th in the 32-team field. In the Central Regional held in Grinnell, Iowa, the men tied for first place with St. Thomas. Watley placed second at the regional meet with a time of 25:15.2.
Nebraska Wesleyan landed four runners on the men's first team – Watley, Brian Copley, Neil Wolford and Kyle Wagner – and four more runners – Spelts, Hayley Sutter, Hannah Kinberg and Amanda Costello – on the women's first team.
Nebraska Wesleyan runner Amanda Costello, a freshman from Lincoln, Neb., was named the women's rookie runner of the year. University of Maine, Presque Isle harrier Jason Johnson, a freshman from Presque Isle, Maine, was voted as the men's rookie runner of the year.
Nebraska Wesleyan's Ted Bulling was named both the men's and women's coach of the year.
The All-Independent Men's and Women's Cross Country teams were selected by the men's and women's cross country coaches from the Association of Division III Independents member schools.
Women's First Team
Jackie Spelts, Senior, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Mikayla Murphy, Junior, University of California, Santa Cruz
Hayley Sutter, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Hannah Kinberg, Sophomore, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Amanda Costello, Freshman, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Women's Second Team
Katie Nelson, Sophomore, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Angela Cuba, Senior, University of Dallas
Lupe Cazares, Senior, Mills College
Angie Sandoval, Senior, Mills College
Kim Chew, Junior, Mills College
Women's Honorable Mention
Michelle Wood, Freshman, Finlandia University
Safiya Karmy-Jones, Freshman, Mills College
Shelly Hanson, Junior, University of Maine-Presque Isle
Kati Christoffel, Freshman, University of Maine-Presque Isle
Dana Webb, Freshman, Mills College
Men's First Team
Logan Watley, Senior, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Brian Copley, Senior, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Neil Wolford, Senior, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Sean Trott, Junior, Lancaster Bible College
Kyle Wagner, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Men's Second Team
Ryan Osberg, Junior, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Greg Pivarunas, Senior, University of Dallas
Justin Fereshetian, Sophomore, University of Maine-Presque Isle
Jason Johnson, Freshman, University of Maine-Presque Isle
Darryl Brown, Freshman, Finlandia University
The Association of Division III Independents consists of 14 Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition. The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis. The Association provides statistical services for its members in seven sports. In addition, it will announce All-Independent teams at the conclusion of eight other sports this year.
More information about the Association of Division III Independents is available at http://www.d3independents.org.
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