FORT DODGE, Iowa — Allen Community College’s Danae McGee capped her storied cross country career Saturday by earning All-American status for the second straight season. THE 2013 SEASON was a learning experience, for the runners and the head coach, DeGrado said.
McGee, a Stroud, Okla., sophomore, finished 10th at the NJCAA National Meet, hosted by Iowa Central College by completing the 5k course in 18 minutes, 49.3 seconds.
All-American designations go to the top 15 finishers. McGee finished ninth at nationals in 2012.
Meanwhile, the Allen men earned a bit of redemption, placing sixth in the nation as a team.
The Red Devils edged Colby, the same squad that topped the Red Devils two weeks earlier at the Region VI championships in Hutchinson.
“I was happy with how we raced and finished,” Red Devil head coach Vince DeGrado said. “We were able to get some payback because Colby had taken it to us a couple of times this season.”
The Red Devil men took home sixth on the heels of an astonishing 12-second pack time. That is Allen’s fifth-place runner, Kyle Schauvliege, was only 12 seconds behind the squad’s top runner, Angel Vasquez.
Vasquez, a freshman out of DeSoto, took home 35th overall with a time of 26:41.8 in the men’s 8k. He was followed by Tampa, Fla., sophomore Ryan Pulsifer in 40th at 26:45.5. Brandon Bernal, sophomore out of Sanger, Texas, was 44th in 26:48.9.
The key to topping Colby, DeGrado noted, was getting three runners in front of Colby’s second finisher.
Dallas Snider, freshman out of Chehalis, Wash., was 50th at 26:51.9. Schauvliege, sophomore out of Manhattan, was 57th in 26:54.2.
“I’ve never seen a 12-second pack time before,” DeGrado said. “That’s unheard of.”
Trail Spears, Lawrence freshman, was 107th overall at 27:48.2. Salvador Medrano, Greenacres, Fla., freshman, was 129th in 28:13.6.
The cross country season is not yet over for the ACC men.
They’ll travel to Marietta, Ga., Saturday for the NJCAA Half Marathon on Saturday.
DeGrado is optimistic about his team’s chances.
“We have some guys who are strong runners at long distances,” he said. “They can run on tempo very well.”
“I’ve been doing this for eight years,” he said. “Just when I think I have it figured out, I learn something new.
“I’m more mad at myself. I think if the season had been two weeks longer, we’d have been even better,” he continued. “The guys really started to come on, even after the regionals.”
Allen won the conference portion of the Region VI/Jayhawk Conference meet Oct. 28, but finished second in the regional standings to Colby.
“That kind of eats at you,” DeGrado said.
Iowa Central brought home both the individual and team national championships on the women’s side. The school placed four of the top 13 runners, led by freshman Hanna Maina, who finished in 18:12.6.
On the men’s side, Central Arizona took home both team and individual titles, with two of the top four runners. Central Arizona’s Harry Mulenga won with a time of 24:39.5.
Allen’s men finished with 210 points. Colby was seventh at 223.
NJCAA National Meet
Women (5k)
10. Danae McGee, 18:49.3
Men (8k)
35. Angel Vasquez, 26:41.8
40. Ryan Pulsifer, 26:45.5
44. Brandon Bernal, 26:48.9
50. Dallas Snider, 26:51.9
57. Kyle Schauvliege, 26:54.2
107. Trail Spears, 27:48.2
129. Salvador Medrano, 28:13.6
Allen’s McGee earns All-American repeat
