2008 Cross Country Off To The Races
Annual George Kyte Classic at Buffalo Park - Flagstaff, AZ
September 6, 2008
The Mesa women runners took 5th place at the Annual George Kyte Classic in Flagstaff. The men were slightly injury-riddled and could not run five so they were unable to accumulate team points.
Coach Condon is pleased with the overall efforts of his runners. Only Pima Community College finished ahead of Mesa in junior college ranks. NAU took first, followed by Arizona, then Arizona State. Pima took fourth. (more)
"I told all of them to be very cautious and not get too overexcited as this is the first meet of the season- and the fact that it is in the high elevations in Flagstaff, it is easy to overwork," says Condon.
On the women's side, Samantha Meyerhoff was Mesa's top qulaifier, finishing 12th overall. Meyerhoff led the race the first mile but Coach Condon thought that may have been a bit too agressive. He said she was running against four and five year runners and will learn to not try and do too much too soon.
Mary Ricks took 27th overall and finished 2nd of the Mesa women. Coach Condon mentioned she had a very good and solid run.
Erin Norris came in 3rd for the ladies and 31st overall. Norris was the biggest surprise of the day in Coach Condon's eyes as she finished very strong.
Taylor Ross came in 4th and 33rd overall. Ross is a #2 runner out of Red Mountain High School.
Brooke Eulate finished 5th and 51st overall. Coach Condon mentioned she had a very strong run.
On the men's side Bruce Logan led the team home finishing 37th overall. Logan Burlew came in 2nd for the men at 51st overall.
""Burlew was a nice surprise as he ran better than his training indicated during the week," says Condon.
Wyatt Parrish came in 3rd at 54th overall. Coach Condon is pleased with his run but realizes the best is yet to come from Parrish.
Derek Tomasone finished 4th and 72nd overall in his first ever cross country race.
"Tomasone has a never say die attitude," says Condon.
The runners compete in the Aztec Invitational at Balboa Park in San Diego, CA this Saturday, September 13 at 8:00 a.m.
New Recruiting Video Presented By MCC Cross Country Coach Eamonn Condon
Please click link below to view video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=MIl-yul1rW4
Coach Condon Honors Dedicated Runners At Banquet
Porter, Mollenkopf, McMaster, and Padilla are awarded
Head cross country coach Eamonn Condon was ever-entertaining as he honored Cailtin Porter, Ingrid Mollenkopf, Brendan McMaster, and James Padilla Monday night, April 20.
The four runners were awarded for their excellence in cross country as well as in the classroom.
"Each of the women ran their personal best times ever on the last race of the season," said Condon.
That alone is a testament to how these runners continued to hone their running abilities.
NJCAA HALF MARATHON CHAMPIONSHIP
NOV. 17, 2007
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Brendan McMaster ran a magnificent race to lead the Mesa Community College men's team to 2nd place at the NJCAA Half Marathon Championships on Saturday morning. The Corona Del Sol alumnus finished in fourth place overall in an MCC record time of 71 minutes and one second. He also picked up the third All-American Award of his career. The cold Carolina weather didn't seem to bother the Thunderbird team unduly, as James Padilla and Dan Bowen recorded significant improvements on their half marathon best times to secure the silver medals for Mesa.
The T-Bird women also had a great day with Ingrid Mollenkopf, Alex Hibert and Caitlin Porter combining for a fifth place finish.
"These ladies have trained all season to race 3 miles on a cross country course. To see them run so well over 13 miles on the road was a very pleasant surprise and a tribute to their battling abilities," said coach Eamonn Condon.
The epitome of team
NJCAA Nationals - Ina, Illinois- November 10, 2007
HIGHLIGHTS:
Mesa men's and women's teams saved their best running of the year for the NJCAA National Championship race on Saturday morning in Ina, Illinois. The men's team, led by returning All-American, Brendan McMaster hit top form to finish tied for 11th place with Hutchinson CC (Kansas), while the Women's team broke the top 12 with all seven Thunderbird ladies running lifetime bests.
A field of over 270 men set out at a tremendously fast pace in the first race of the day. With 23 African runners in the top 25 places, Brendan McMaster quickly set his sights on the home grown contingent as he fought for All-American honors. McMaster achieved his goal in style, finishing 32nd overall; good enough to place him on the prestigious All American Team. Mesa High's, Kyle Ehrke finished in 69th place to add a solid finish to an equally impressive freshman season. James Padilla, Dan Bowen and Rick Worker fought hard for every place and their tenacity was rewarded with a tie for 11th place.
The Thunderbird women hit top gear an hour later, with all seven MCC ladies recording career best performances.
Coach Eamonn Condon, was delighted with the result, "It is not easy to run fast at Nationals, because the large number of runners makes it difficult to run unimpeded. To have all seven of our girls run personal records is astounding."
Ingrid Mollenkopf lead the Thunderbird charge in 19:10. This is Mollenkopf's first season of cross-country and her results on the hills and dales this fall augur well for track season and beyond. The ever-reliable Alex Hibert and Caitlin Porter chased hard to post improvements of 1:25 and 0:37 respectively on their personal records. Race announcers often like to use the phrase "you're all winners". For the Thunderbirds on Saturday, the hyperbole was more than justified.
Mesa Women placed 12th out of 34 teams
Runner |
Place |
Year |
Time |
Ingrid Mollenkopf |
45th |
FR |
19:10 |
Alex Hibert |
58th |
FR |
19:21 |
Caitlin Porter |
70th |
FR |
19:37 |
Necole Jim |
95th |
SO |
20:08 |
Aimee Adams |
98th |
FR |
20:11 |
Amber Izzo |
123rd |
FR |
20:44 |
Allison Smith |
155th |
FR |
21:37 |
MCC’s McMaster Player of the Week
Mesa Community College’s Brendan McMaster, a Tempe Corona del Sol graduate, finished sixth in the NJCAA Region I Cross Country Championships to help the Thunderbird men move on the NJCAA Nationals next week.
McMaster’s 25:57.7 was his best performance of the year, said MCC coach Eamonn Condon.
NJCAA Region I Championships Kiwanis Park, Tempe, AZ - 10/26/2007
Mesa Community College Men's and Women's teams had a successful day at Kiwanis Park on Friday Morning. Competing in the NJCAA Region I Championships, both teams qualified for the National Meet and will travel to Illinois in two weeks time. It is the first time that both Thunderbird teams have gained admission to Nationals this millennium.
Brendan McMaster hit his best form to date, finishing sixth in the men's event. The Corona Del Sol graduate is already being recruited by a number of NCAA schools and this performance should elevate his reputation even higher. Another strong performance came from team captain James Padilla, after struggling in some recent races. Coach Eamonn Condon, was delighted by Padilla's return to form.
"This is the perfect time to start hitting peak condition. James should be at the top of his game when he gets to Illinois". Mesa High alumnus, Kyle Ehrke followed home three seconds later and helped ensure qualification for "The Big Dance".
When Rick Worker from Tuba City and Dan Bowen from Hamilton High crossed the finish line the job was complete. The two recent returnees from injury toiled in the unseasonable heat, but their work ethic was never in question. With another two weeks to go to Nationals they can expect a further upswing in their performances.
In the women's race, Ingrid Mollenkopf battled gamely against the heat and held on for 5th place and "Region 1 - First Team" honors. Coach Condon mused, "Ingrid is not one to complain, but I think she'll be happier (at Nationals) in the cooler weather of Southern Illinois."
The Mesa women took third place, due to fine performances from the ever-stalwart duo of Caitlin Porter and Alex Hibert. Porter from Mountain View High School and Hibert (Saguaro) ran in tandem for much of the race and were only separated by six seconds at the end. When Necole Jim and Aimee Adams spurred each other on to 20th and 21st place respectively, the phone calls to the travel agents began in earnest.
The T-Birds are flying northeast to Illinois very soon.
Full Results at http://www.maricopa.edu/cctf/results/crosscountry/2007/071026RegionI.html
2007 Canyon West Cross Country Classic
Kiwanis Park, Tempe October 13, 2007
The Canyon West Classic is the last race of the season before the NJCAA Regional Championship. As such, it is also the last chance for Thunderbird athletes to earn a place on the Mesa (7 person) Regional team. The mostly-freshmen Mesa teams responded well to the pressure, with 13 men and women posting career best-times on the challenging hills of Kiwanis Park.
First up were the ladies, where the T-Birds finished as second place team. Ingrid Mollenkopf once again continued her remarkable transformation from novice cross-country runner to nationally ranked star. This week, Miss Mollenkopf outkicked NJCAA 1500m champion, Aybuke Kizilarslan (Turkey) to take 1st place in the Junior College race. Caitlin Porter also ran the best race of her life as she finished in 5th place. Career performances followed from Alex Hibert and the surprisingly strong Aimee Adams who smashed 57 seconds off her personal best time.
The men's team showed that they are no mere support act for their female running companions by completing their best team performance of the year. Brendan McMaster (5th) and Kyle Ehrke (13th) raised their game to new levels, while a healthy-again, Dan Bowen ran a whopping 1 minute and 25 seconds faster than he ever had before. Despite the many excellent performances at Canyon West, this team still has plenty of upside and will be looking forward to the remainder of the season with great anticipation.
Summary: Encouraging performances all round from the Thunderbirds as both teams approach the Region Meet where they will attempt to win a trip to the National Championships.
Next Meet: NJCAA Region I Championships Friday and Saturday, October 26-27, 2007 in Scottsdale.
Mollenkopf MCC’s top women’s runner at ACCAC meet
Cary L. Tyler, For the Tribune
Player of the Week: Mesa Community College’s Ingrid Mollenkopf finished third in the ACCAC cross country championships last Friday, earning Tribune Juco player-of-the-week honors.
Mollenkopf, a freshmen from Mesa Skyline, ran a 19:38.3 to help MCC to a third-place finish.
MCC placed third in the women’s division, with Caitlin Porter finishing 16th.
Brendan McMaster, a Tempe Corona del Sol graduate, finished 12th in the men’s division, helping MCC to a fourth-place finish.
ACCAC Conference Championships Pavilion Lakes Golf Club, Scottsdale Sept. 28, 2007
Ingrid Mollenkopf continued her impressive rate of improvement on Friday morning in Scottsdale. The MCC freshman took third place at the ACCAC Conference Championships by outkicking some of Arizona's finest cross country runners. While Aybuke Kizilarslan from Turkey and Kenyan import, Naomi Kea fought for the top two spots in the race, Mollenkopf battled gamely for Arizona bragging rights.
Coach Eamonn Condon says that Ingrid is one of "those rare, unexpected success stories that inspire teammates and delight coaches. She is a great example of what can be achieved with determination and perseverance..... and so far we're only getting a glimpse of what she can really do."
Determination and perseverance were evident in abundance from the Thunderbird women. Caitlin Porter and Alex Hibert ignored illness and injury to propel the team to 3rd place overall. They'll enjoy better health and run faster races, but their work rate was second to none on this day. Personal records for Mary Lamb and Allison Smith rounded out a remarkable day for the Mesa ladies.
In the men's race, returning All-American, Brendan McMaster showed signs of a return to form. McMaster chipped almost 40 seconds off his race time in San Diego recently to lead the T-Birds to a strong 4th place finish. The mainly freshman team showed an ability to rise to the big occasion, with 7 of the ten runners posting career best times. The next time the teams from Region I meet, a trip to the National Championships in Illinois will be at stake. This was a fine appetizer that will have whetted many an appetite.
Next Up: Canyon West Classic Kiwanis Park Sat. Oct 13, 2007 - 7:00AM
New Stars Shine In MCC's Home Meet
Thunderbird Classic showcases MCC talent
Ingrid Mollenkopf's transformation from unheralded walk-on to star performer continued on Friday evening at Riverview Park. Mollenkopf showed courage and confidence that belied her limited race experience when challenging the front-runners at MCC's home meet.
The 100-degree conditions took a heavy toll on the gritty Skyline graduate and she eventually faded to the 6th spot in 19 minutes, 44 seconds, but her ambition and determination are no longer a secret. This freshman intends to mix it up with the best of them.
Caitlin Porter finished six seconds behind Mollenkopf providing the impetus for a strong second-place team finish. Also of note was a fine second place finish by MCC coach Shanae Cody in 19 minutes, 27seconds.
"With every race, it seems a new MVP emerges from the MCC men's team," said Coach Eamonn Condon.
This time it was Josh Lundin's turn to take the spotlight. Showing few signs of the injury that plagued him all summer, Lundin looked relaxed and strong as he cantered home in 10th place in 16 minutes,14 seconds.
Rick Worker followed home 11 seconds later, while Dan Bowen put in a valiant effort to finish in 15th place following three weeks on the treatment table.
Next up is an ACCAC Conference Meet, Friday, September 28 at Pavillion Lakes Golf Club at 8870 East Indian Bend Road in Scottsdale (85250). The men's 8 km race starts at 8:00 a.m. followed by the women's 5 kmat 9:45 a.m.
Aztec Invitational Shows Mesa Runners Can Compete In Division I
Difficult conditions bring out the best
The challenging Aztec Invitational course at Balboa Park was matched only by the severity of the competition as the Thunderbirds competed in San Diego State at the weekend. Two enormous hills should have precluded the possibility of fast times, but despite the unfavorable terrain three Mesa women posted season best times. Caitlin Porter was the best of the T-Birds, finishing in 20:52, and was followed home one second later by Ingrid Mollenkopf. Alex Hibert (22:02; Season Best), Amber Izzo and Allison Smith completed the team-scoring to edge out Cal Tech for fifth place out of the nine competing schools.
The Mesa Men entered the SDSU Invitational Race in San Diego, and found themselves rubbing shoulders with some strong NCAA Div. I teams. A daunting challenge, that was met with a hugely positive response. Seven Mesa athletes ran season bests, led by James Padilla (27:49) who knocked almost one and a half minutes off his time from the same meet last year. Freshman, John Bigwater showed promise of bigger things to come, finishing 15 seconds behind Padilla.
First Meet Goes Well For Runners
Both men and women place 2nd in Flagstaff's George Kyte Invitational
Mesa Community College opened the 2007 cross country season with a trip to Flagstaff on Saturday. With only one 2nd year athlete running for the Thunderbirds, expectations lay squarely on the shoulders of the freshmen runners at The George Kyte Classic.
Many athletes try too hard in their first college competition, only to rue the consequences in the 2nd half of the race. Add in the testing hilly terrain and reduced oxygen of Northern Arizona and you have the makings of a nasty introduction to college running.
Fortunately, the young Mesa teams responded well to the challenge as both men and women finished 2nd out of five NJCAA schools competing in the event.
Caitlin Porter and Ingrid Lyne led the Mesa ladies home, with John Bigwater and Kyle Erke showing the way to their male counterparts.
There are bigger races ahead for the Thunderbirds, but this solid, error -free opener will give them great encouragement.
2007 Cross Country Outlook
New Head Coach Eamonn Condon is optimistic about his 2007 Cross Country team. Practices have gone well thus far and Condon hopes all of his runners stick with it. The team will have time trials on August 15 and again on August 25. The trials will be two miles for the women and four miles for the men initially. In the subsequent time trial, the coach mentioned he will step it up a bit and make it three miles for the women and five for the men.
"I'm not cutting anyone, so they'll have to push themselves and see just how much each of them has to give," said Condon.
The coach said he hopes that as classes start, the student-athletes do not get overwhelmed, and continue to show up for practices.
The team will participate in eight meets, the first being the George Kyte Invitational up in Flagstaff at Buffalo Park at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 1. The ninth meet would be the NJCAA National Championships in Rend Lake, IL the week of November 10.
"For most races we are limited to 12 runners on each team, but sometimes we can field a "B" team. When we get into Regionals, we will use the best seven runners, counting five of the scores," said Condon.
Preliminarily there are 24 men and 12 women on the squads. Most of the members are freshmen, with only two men and two women representing the sophomore class.
"On the women's side, Caitlin Porter, out of Mountain View High School, and Alex Hibert, out of Saguaro High School, look very good out of the gates," said Condon.
On the men's side, the first-year coach is enjoying the efforts of freshman Rick Worker from Tuba City High School. Worker was a Division 3A State Champion in the 3200 meters for his track team, according to Condon.
"Mesa High's own Kyle Ehrke also looks very good early on," said the coach.
The third meet of the season will be hosted by Mesa Community College at Riverview Park. The T'Bird Classic is slated for Friday, September 21 at 5: 00 p.m.
"These teams will be two of the strongest teams I have ever coached," said Condon.
Shanae Cody, from White River, AZ, and a Gateway CC graduate will be an assistant coach. Declan Kennedy, an Irish International runner out of St. John's University, will be another assistant. Kennedy ran a 1:48 in the 800 meters in college and Coach Condon hopes some of that speed rubs off on his athletes.
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