Lewis earns trip to DIII National meet; Wheeler earns all-region selection
by Kyle Robarts, SID
11/14/2009 6:59:55 PM
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Carla Lewis became the first McMurry woman in school history to earn a trip to the NCAA Division III national meet after placing sixth at the NCAA South/Southeast Region Championships Saturday in Greensboro, N.C.
Lewis’ scorching time of 24:04 in the women’s 6K race earned her a first-team all-region selection, and helped her become the first McMurry woman in the program’s 14-year history to go to the national meet.
On the men’s side, Ken Wheeler placed 28th to earn all-region for the fourth-consecutive year. Wheeler, a senior from Fort Worth, didn’t place in the top 12, which is needed to advance to nationals, but became the first male runner in school history to earn all-region selections (top 35) in all four seasons. Wheeler ran in the national meet in 2008 and will still be eligible to be named an academic all-American for a fourth-consecutive year as well.
McMurry’s women finished 14th out of 27 teams at the regional meet while the men were 14th out of 24 teams.
Individually, Alaisha Guerra was the next finisher for McMurry’s women in 42nd place, Sarah Ashton was 106th, Kurstin Draper was 121st, Karlie Dieterich was 124th, Tara McMullen was 129th, and Brittney McGuire was 132nd.
On the men’s side, Todd Neer was the first runner behind Wheeler in 59h place, Brad Mullens was 79th, Corey Werner placed 89th, Colby Freehauf placed 157h and Jeff Batsche finished 166th.
Lewis departs for Cleveland, Ohio Thursday to run in the national meet Saturday hosted by Baldwin Wallace University.