The Loras College men's cross country team wasn't able to repeat as Iowa Conference champions on Saturday in Cedar Rapids, but did provide the next best thing, finishing in second place with all of the team's scoring runners among the top 16 in the 155-runner field.
Dubuque native Ty Wittman was Loras' top finisher, following a trio of Central College Dutch runners who went 1-2-3 to finish in fourth place. Wittman ran a PR time of 25:43 – 22 seconds off the winning time and a half step out of third place.
After Wittman, the Duhawks gave Central a run for the team title by staying together. Steve Loran, Austin Steil, and Ryan Sheeran each earned All-Iowa Conference honors with Wittman by finishing in the top 15. Loran was 8th in 25:49, Steil was 10th in 25:55, and Sheeran was 12th with a 25:56. Chris Higgins was 16th in 26:04 – finishing out Loras' stop five slots for a total of 50.
The Dutch had 33 team points and Luther was third with 70.
The 2012 effort did provide a lower point total than a year ago (53 in 2011).
"I'm very proud of how well our guys stepped up to day and handled some adversity," head coach Bob Schultz said after the meet.
"Steil, Wittman, and Howe were all cross training this week, so we didn't know what to expect coming in. Many of your guys exceeded my expectations. This gives us a lot of confidence going into regionals in two weeks."
| Loras at | |
| May 23rd-25th NCAA Championships (UW-LaCrosse), UW-LaCrosse | |
| Loras at | |
| May 23rd-25th NCAA Championships (UW-LaCrosse), UW-LaCrosse | |
| Loras at | No Team Score |
| at North Central Last Chance, North Central College | |
| results | |
| Loras at | No Team Score |
| at North Central Last Chance, North Central College | |
| results | |
| Loras at | No Team Score |
| at UW-LaCrosse Last Chance, UW-LaCrosse | |
| results | |
| Loras at | No Team Score |
| at UW-LaCrosse Last Chance, UW-LaCrosse | |
| results | |
| (6) Loras vs | 0 |
| (4) Central College | 3 |
| IIAC Tournament Rd. 3, Game 7 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa | |
| stats | |
| (6) Loras vs | 9 |
| (3) Buena Vista University | 0 |
| IIAC Tournament Rd. 1, Game 2 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa | |
| stats | |
| (6) Loras vs | 3 |
| (2) Coe College | 6 |
| IIAC Tournament Rd. 2, Game 3 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa | |
| stats | |
| Loras | 3rd of 8 |
| May 9th-11th IIAC Championships hosted by Loras College | |
| results | |
| Loras | 4th of 8 |
| May 9th-11th IIAC Championships hosted by Loras College | |
| results | |
| Buena Vista University at | 1 |
| Loras | 3 |
| Makeup from 5/4 | |
| stats | |
| Buena Vista University at | (10) | 8 |
| Loras | 4 | |
| stats | ||
| Loras at | Cncl |
| Augustana College | |
| Makeup from 4/17 | |
| Buena Vista University at | 1 |
| Loras | 0 |
| Makeup from 5/3 | |
| stats | |
| Buena Vista University at | 4 |
| Loras | 2 |
| stats | |
| Buena Vista University at | Rain |
| Loras | Out |
| Senior Day | |
| Buena Vista University at | Rain |
| Loras | Out |
| Loras at | 7th of 8 |
| IIAC Championship Rds. 3-4 - (NOW) May 4-5, Elmcrest GC/Finkbine GC | |
| results | |
| Loras at | No Team Score |
| at Monmouth Invite, Monmouth College | |
| results | |
| Loras at | No Team Score |
| at Monmouth Invite, Monmouth College | |
| results | |
| Buena Vista University at | Rain |
| Loras | Out |
| Buena Vista University at | Rain |
| Loras | Out |
| Loras at | 0 |
| University of Dubuque | 1 |
| stats | |
| Loras at | 8 |
| University of Dubuque | 6 |
| stats | |
| Clarke University at | Cncl |
| Loras |
| Loras at | 0 |
| Eureka College | 3 |
| stats | |
