I have done what I could, let those who can do better.
And so it goes. The USATF Nebraska Association elections were yesterday, as fate would have it, the new LDR Chair vote was a deadlock. In the new spirit of cooperation, c0-chairs were elected instead of long debate and re-votes. Team Nebraska’s Matt Pohren and Ndorfnz Racing’s Derek Fey will lead Nebraska’s Long Distance Running committee for the next two years. I told them it would take four feet to fill the shoes I’m leaving behind, obviously departing with my ego in tact. John Wissler was elected as the new Nebraska Association President. Logan Watley of the Lincoln Running Company Racing Team was elected treasurer. It is a new day for Nebraska USATF. Let those who can, do better.
Personal highlight of the meeting was Matt announcing the Will Lindgren LDR Scholarship that will be awarded annually to deserving graduating high school seniors (one boy and one girl) that have declared to compete collegiately in track or cross country. Nice to have my service to the organization honored this way, I’ll admit to getting just a little choked up and at a loss for words.
Omaha Corporate Cup recap: UNK star Tanner Fruit stole the day with his 30:56 winning time. Kaci Lickteig (36:33) won a close battle with Amanda Lee (36:37) for the women’s title.
In the Team Competition (Team Nebraska, Lincoln Running Co. Racing, and Ndorfnz Racing all competed under the “Community Division”), top 3 scores, it shook out like this as best as I can tell:
Open Men
1. Team Nebraska
(2. Eric Rasmussen, 31:09, 4. Luka Thor, 31:53, 5. Matt Pohren, 31:54)
2. Lincoln Running Co. Racing
(3. Tom Nichols, 31:43, 6. Neil Wolford, 32:21, 7. Eric Noel, 33:16)
3. Ndorfnz Racing
(10. Seth Hirsch, 33:50**, 15. Scott Haug, 34:51, 20. Jason Zakaras, 35:40)
**age 13, state record
Open Women
1. Team Nebraska
(4. Natalie Como, 37:29 (pr), 5. Megan Zavorka, 37:59, 6. Shannon Mauser-Suing, 38:06 *4:00 pr!)
2. Ndorfnz Racing
(1. Kaci Lickteig, 36:33 (pr), 10. Maureen Larsen, 39:23, 13. Courtney Mann, 39:55)
It was a morning full of personal bests.
9. Andrew Jacob – 33:44 (pr)
11. York Thomas- 34:11
14. Gerald Kubiak, 34:39
30. Lee Anderson- 37:16
64. Agustin Delgado- 39:39 (pr)
xx. John Tully- 59:24 (broken foot at 5 miles)
9. Carolyn Meyer- 38:58 (2:00 pr!)
12. Emily Kraus- 39:39
15. Halleigh Riggle- 40:34 (pr)
17. Carole Swanson- 40:40 (masters pr)
19. Joy Shulz- 41:40 (pr)
22. Kristin Ramm- 42:09 (pr)
25. Suzanne Higgins- 43:06 (pr)
27. Linda Barnhart- 43:09
37. Amy Bagee- 44:36 (pr)
Worth noting here that Matt Pohren did the undoable double over the weekend. Matt ran the Woody Greeno 8K XC meet, arguably the most competitive cross meet of the year, on Saturday. He finished in a best ever 8th overall in a fast 25:05. Pretty nice turnaround to the next morning’s 31:54 10K.
Our Corporate Cup photos are up on the little pink flickr button below. As always, yours to have and hold gratis.
Team Nebraska, Lincoln Running Co. Racing, and Ndorfnz Racing making up the front row of Omaha’s largest road race. Real Racing on a crisp cool morning made for fast times all around.
Carolyn Meyer surprised me with a big 2:00 personal best.
Shannon Mauser Suing had an even bigger personal best of 4:00! Both she and Carolyn are under the tutelage of Killer Coach Glen Van Der Westhuizen. Coincidence?
Luka and Matt make the final turn for home. It was a great showing by all the mates yesterday!
Eric Rasmussen would be our top finisher taking 2nd overall to UNK stud Tanner Fruit. Tanner has an indoor and outdoor season of eligibility remaining. Oh boy, I can’t wait!
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