Wiegand helps SCC Blackhawks to 4th place

OTTUMWA - It was a calm and sunny day when the SCC Cross Country team donned their spikes during the Indian Hills CC Invitational at Cedar Creek Golf Course in Ottumwa.
“Today’s going to be about toughness. It’s warm, be smart, run our race, run our times.” said coach Lucas Keifer. “There’s going to be moments out there when we are tested emotionally and physically lay it all out there and I want to be proud of the effort. This is a fast course.”
The runners, now primed, took off and flew by the spectators like a gallant wind. The women’s team raced first in a 5 kilometer run and the men’s team followed with an 8 kilometers race.
“Run like the wind and we are so proud of you always,” said Joni Lawson to her nephew Parker Quinlan (Hamilton). “I live in this town and look forward to this each year.”
Quinlan ran just as his aunt suggested as he placed fourth with a time of 25:37 minutes and broke his personal best by almost 30 seconds. The time also was a school record.
“I had to start pushing down the stretch and hope for the best. It was a good PR today,” said Quinlan.
In the women’s race Paetyn Wiegand (Fort Madison) ran the course in 19:06 and placed 9th. It was the third fastest time in the SCC record books.
“It felt really fast, fast and hot,” said Wiegand. “The pack in front of me gave me motivation to try and catch them. I caught the last person.”

The race is the closest to the SCC campus and there were a lot of SCC fans on the grounds to cheer on the Blackhawks.
“It gives you adrenaline when they cheer for you,” said Wiegand.
The runners sweated out the run and were exhausted and thirsty after the race.
“I really love how this group competes — every race we go out and give it 100% and never see them folding come the mental side of things, definitely a gritty group,” said  Keifer. “Sophomores are doing great leading and the freshmen are making a big impact of their own so really a team effort all around.”
The men’s team placed fifth out of the eight teams and the women’s team came in fourth. Jackson Shacklett's (Danville) time of 27:06 was the eighth fastest time for an SCC runner and Carter Easton (Center Point) also had a fast time as he ran the course in 27:42. On the women’s side Rylee Olsen (Keokuk) ran the race in 20:56 and Chloe Ferneau (Treynor) in 21:34.
Next up for the runners is the ICCAC DII Regional Championship Oct. 23 in Fort Dodge and that will be followed by the National Junior College Athletic Association DII National Championships on the same course on Nov. 8.
“Hopefully the upcoming training block can set me up for the Regional and Nationals,” said Quinlan.
“Our two through five are running well and I think we still have some time to shave, but I’m planning for them to run their best when it matters most here shortly at Regionals and Nationals,” said Keifer. “It has been a great season so far and I have really enjoyed being able to coach and get to know this group through the season.”