Luther Claims Region Title - Dobyns Crowned Region Champion - Five All-Region
Nov. 10, 2007
The women's cross country team will be making a return trip to the NCAA Division III National Championships after claiming the team title at the NCAA III Central Regional hosted by St. Olaf College, Northfield this afternoon.
Luther's top five all earned all-region honors by placing in the top-35, led by Janet Dobyns who claimed the individual title by nine seconds. Dobyns posted a time of 21:38, finishing ahead of Sarah Spencer of Grinnell College who crossed the finish line at 21:47.
The Norse tallied 87 points en route to the team title. Nebraska Wesleyan was second with 118. Wartburg was third with 160 and the University of St. Thomas was fourth with 197.
Earning all-region honors included junior Flannery Cerbin (17th - 23:05), junior Rachel Wobeter (19th - 23:06), freshman Ericka Sell (22nd - 23:11) and freshman Annie McKay (28th - 23:17).
Sophomore Katie Dolan (38th - 23:30) and junior Elise Bennett (40th - 23:34) just missed this honor and completed Luther's seven.
Dobyns, who earned All-America honors last year after finishing 23rd at the national finale, became the first Norse runner to be crowned a region champion since 2001.
As a team, Luther will be making its ninth appearance at the national meet and the second consecutive under the direction of associate Head Coach Yarrow Pasche. Last year, the Norse placed 11th at the national finale.
The national championships will be hosted by St. Olaf one week from today, on the same course the Norse ran on this afternoon.
