The Falcon   |   Volume 83, Issue 52

Published 5/22/13   |   Log In

Smooth transition for women’s cross country team

Published: October 3, 2012

After the graduation of two All-Region performers, Heidi Laabs-Johnson and Natty Plunkett, Seattle Pacific’s women’s cross country team was hoping to fill the void. It has been replaced by the emergence of two women of the same name: freshman Katie Morris and senior Katie Thralls.

Thralls, who also competes for SPU’s women’s basketball and track and field teams, joined the cross country team this season. She has made an immediate impact already. Through the first five races, Thralls finished in the top eight overall, including a second place finish in her first career race on Aug. 30 in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Morris has also shown significant promise in her freshman season. After finishing third on the team in the first two races of the season, Morris led all Falcon women at the Sundodger Invitational and Charles Bowie Invitational. In the latter, Morris placed No. 15 overall, including first place among all DII participants. As a team, SPU finished first among DII schools and fifth overall.

Redshirt sophomore Robyn Zeidler is one of the most experienced runners on the team, proving the youth of the squad. Zeidler finished first overall in the first meet of the season. At the Charles Bowles Invitational, Zeidler set a personal record time while finishing No. 27 overall. Freshman Lynelle Decker and sophomore Jasmine Johnson are also consistently among the team’s highest finishers.

The women’s cross country team is currently ranked No. 21 in the nation. This is the highest ranking since early in the 2010 season. Although the team is young and inexperienced, there is not a shortage of talent, as proven by this season’s results.

By DANNY CIACCIO

sports editor

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