University of Northern Iowa
Missouri Valley Conference
UNI's Connell earns all-MVC honors at cross country championships
10/30/2021 8:41:00 AM | Cross Country
NORMAL, Ill. - Kiki Connell led the University of Northern Iowa women's cross country team at the Missouri Valley Conference Championships, earning all-conference honors.Â
The UNI cross country teams battled Missouri Valley Conference rivals in a chilling, muddy, and rainy showdown on Friday.The women's team finished with a tie against Indiana State for seventh overall, and the men's finished seventh.Â
Connell led the women with her finish in the 6K with a time of 21 minutes, 34.5 seconds. Connell earned 10th place and her first spot on the 2021 all-conference team. Paige Holub gave a strong run placing her in 35th with a new personal best time of 22:37.4 in the 6K. Kate Crawford followed closely behind Holub, finishing 36th with a time of 22:41.0. The women averaged a combined time of 22:29 with a 1:10.0 spread between runners. The Loyola Ramblers take home the championship title with a finishing score of 36 points and an average time of 21:16. Â
Sam McCool continued his lead for the men, finishing 17th overall with a time of 25:13.6 only 00:00.4 off of his personal best time in the 8K set earlier this season. Payton Marrs finished his 8K with a time of 25:43.0, earning him 27th place. Drake Hanson set a new personal best, demolishing his previous time of 26:30.9 and trading it in for a 26:05.6 and a 38th place finish. The men averaged a combined time of 25:59 with a 1:17.0 spread between runners. The Drake Bulldogs take home the title with a finishing score of 20 and an average time of 24:32.Â
The Panthers head into postseason, with their next meet in Iowa City for regionals on Nov.12.Â
Women's Team ScoresÂ
2. Bradley (62 points)
3. Illinois State (90 points)
4. Southern Illinois (109 points)
5. Drake (127 points)
6. Missouri State (159 points)
7. Indiana State (160 points)
   Northern Iowa (160 points)
9. Valparaiso (275 points)
10. Evansville (278 points)
Women's All-Conference First TeamÂ
- Anneka Murrin, Loyola (Athlete of the Year)
- Mimi Reimers, Loyola
- Nicola Jansen, Bradley
- Kathleen Simms, Loyola
- Kayla Schiera, Southern Illinois
- Claire Hengesbaugh, Loyola
- Jocelyn Quiles, Indiana State
- Ailey Mitchell, Illinois State
- Sophia McDonnell, Bradley
- Kiki Connell, Northern Iowa
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Women's All-Conference Honorable MentionÂ
- Brooke Mullins, Drake
- Wilma Nielsen, Bradley
- Caroline Meyers, Illinois State
- Rachel Hickey, Illinois State
- Sierra Williams, Missouri State
Men's Team ScoresÂ
- Drake (20 points)
- Bradley (53 points)
- Loyola (94 points)
- Illinois State (115 points)
- Southern Illinois (118 points)
- Indiana State (142 points)
- Northern Iowa (170 points)
- Valparaiso (229 points)
- Evansville (287 points)
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Men's All-Conference First TeamÂ
- Issac Basten, Drake (Athlete of the Year)
- Adam Fogg, Drake
- Aziz Jdai, Drake
- Chantz Visse, Loyola
- Alec Danner, Bradley
- Enzo Marie, Drake
- Charlie Parrish, Bradley
- Jack Zettl, Drake
- Matt Aho, Bradley
- Ethan Senti, Southern Illinois
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Men's All-Conference Honorable MentionÂ
- Dawson Smith, Southern Illinois
- Noah McIntyre, Southern Illinois
- Charlie Wetzel, Illinois State
- George Watson, Bradley
- Matt Blanco, Illinois State
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Specialty AwardsÂ
- Women's Athlete of the Year – Anneka Murrin, Loyola
- Women's Elite 17 – Anneka Murrin, Loyola
- Women's Freshman of the Year – Nicola Jansen, Bradley
- Men's Athlete of the Year – Issac Basten, Drake
- Men's Elite 17 – Charlie Parrish, Bradley
- Men's Freshman of the Year – Enzo Marie, Drake
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Players Mentioned
