Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

11/27/2007
Story by Tyler Cundith

JCCC women second at 1/2 marathon, men finish third

OVERLAND PARK, KS --  The Johnson County Community College women’s and men’s cross country teams capped their 2007 season competing in the 2007 NJCAA Half Marathon Championships in Spartanburg, S.C., Nov. 17.  The Lady Cavaliers finished second behind El Paso Community College  by two points, just missing its fourth NJCAA National Championship. The men posted a third-place finish in the 15-team field.  Iowa Central placed first, followed by Mesa Community College.  The two teams are coached by Mike Bloemker.

Leading the women was sophomore Christa Heideman.  She earned NJCAA All-American honors by placing in the top five. Heideman placed fifth overall with a time of 1:27:44, which is the third-best time recorded by a JCCC runner in this championship. Heideman also etched her name among the all-time great performers in JCCC history, by earning her 11th All-America honor of her career.  She joins Marty Cisper and Amy Gochnour as the most decorated athletes in JCCC history. She will likely take over that title at the NJCAA Indoor Track Championships in early March.

Other key efforts were turned in by freshmen Temer Yimer and Andrea Young, and sophomore Kay Thomason.  Timer placed 13th with a time of 1:32:22.  Young was 17th with a time of 1:34:42, and Thomason placed 18th overall with a time of 1:34:59.

The men were led by sophomores Keith Cowart and Alex Troncoso.  Cowart was 13th overall with a  time of 1:14:15, which ranks as the fifth-best time posted by a JCCC runner.  He also was the sixth best American runner in the field.  
Troncoso finished in the 15th spot overall with a time of 1:14:25.  That effort ranks seventh all-time at JCCC.  He was the eighth best American to cross the finish line.

Other key efforts were posted by sophomores Grant Catloth and Trevor Johannsen. Catloth finished 22nd with a time of 1:16:31, and Johannsen was 31st overall with a time of1:18:40.