Runners Brave Elements at NAIA Meet

The NAIA Cross-Country Nationals were last weekend in Kenosha, Wis., in conditions more suitable for cross-country skiing.

The runners faced some of the worst conditions in the meet’s history, braving snow and temperatures in the low 30s. The trails were not plowed wide enough in most areas, so runners generally stayed single file unless they wanted to venture into a snow drift to try and pass.

Concordia’s Rachel Lafady finished the 5,000-meter race in 21 minutes in 75th place. Tricia Mattson finished 81st in 21 minutes 3 seconds.

Southern California College’s Monica Landa finished 97th in the field of 333 runners in 21:10. Her teammate, Matt Wheeler, finished the 8,000-meter course in the men’s race in 29:14 to place 193rd.

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Second fiddle? Chapman kicker Matt George filled in admirably for punter Mario Acosta, a second-team All-American selection last season who injured his ankle and missed the final eight games of the season.

George finished with a punting average of 43.8 yards, good for third-best in the nation.

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Hoops: Saturday’s basketball schedule includes Chapman hosting the second night of its men’s basketball tournament, with games at 6 and 8 p.m., and Concordia hosting a doubleheader with the women playing Pomona-Pitzer at 5:30 and the men playing Claremont at 7:30 p.m.