Season Review, Northwestern College Red Raiders

2007 Season Review

The Northwestern College cross country team reached new heights in 2007. With a mix of experienced runners coupled with several talented newcomers, the Red Raider women’s team experienced their most successful season in the history of the program. The women qualified for the NAIA national championship as a team for the first time since 1992 and placed 10^th at the meet, their best- ever finish. Two runners, freshmen Olivia Johnson (Milford, Iowa) and Charity Miles (Thedford, Neb.), placed third and fifth at nationals to earn NAIA All-American honors.

After weeks of building up mileage during the preseason, the Red Raiders made their season debut in Sioux Center at The Early Short One. The women’s team won the meet with an impressive score of 27, placing eight runners in the top 15. The men’s team finished in second place with four harriers placing in the top 15. After another month of conditioning, Northwestern then competed at the Briar Cliff Invitational where the womenearned the team title and the men placed sixth out of 11 teams. Four freshmen led the way for the women’s team as Johnson (1^st), Miles (2^nd), Sara Hess (10^th) and Steph Powell (12^th) placed in the top 15 individuals. For her efforts, Johnson earned GPAC Runner of the Week for the second time. Danny Owens, a freshman from Clarinda, Iowa, placed 13^th to lead the men’s team.

After another strong showing at the Mount Marty Invite, the Red Raiders began the postseason with a strong showing at the GPAC championships. The women’s team finished just one point behind Concordia (Neb.) for third place. Johnson and Miles took first and second individually, and both earned all-conference honors. Johnson and Head Coach Dale Thompson were named GPAC Runner and GPAC Coach of the Year. The men’s team placed eighth and was led by Owens (35^th) and senior captain Jon Woehl (37^th). Ranked in the top 25 for the first time in the program’s history, the women’s team entered the Region III championships as one of the favorites along with a pair of ranked teams, Black Hills State and Concordia. Led by Johnson and Miles who finished first and second once again, the Red Raiders placed second as a team with 88 points and all but guaranteed their berth to the NAIA national championships. The men’s team ended their season with a 10^th place finish, led by Owens who placed 44^th.

The Red Raider women’s team culminated their record-breaking season with their best-ever finish at the NAIA national championships. In addition to the honors accorded Johnson and Miles, Lori Wolf, a senior from Orange City, Iowa, received NAIA Champion of Character recognition and along with seven other teammates, earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognition as well.