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

9/06/06
Story by Tyler Cundith

JCCC cross country teams place third at Maple Leaf Invitational

    OVERLAND PARK, KS --  The Johnson County Community College women’s and men’s cross country teams opened their seasons last weekend at the Maple Leaf Invitational in Baldwin City, Kan., and came away with impressive third-place finishes.  Additionally,  each team had a runner finish in the top five.  
 
    On the women’s side, freshman Christa Heideman of Wamego, Kan., led the squad with a third-place showing, crossing the finish line in 12:06.84.   Her average mile time over the 3,000-meter course was 6:05.6.  Her time was 1:05 faster than JCCC’s top finisher a year ago in this event.

    Other key efforts were turned in by sophomore Jackie Jamison of Quinter, Kan., and freshman Danielle Houltberg of Salina, Kan.  Jamison, an all-conference and all-region performer in cross country last year, finished with a time of 12:43.53, nearly one minute faster that her effort in this meet last year, which earned her a 16th-place finish.  Houltberg was close behind, finishing 18th with a time of 12:44.72.

    Rounding out the JCCC roster were freshman Sarah Dupree  of Shawnee, Kan. (33rd-13:27.19), freshman Kay Thomason of Blue Valley Northwest (34th-13:28.02), Samantha Parr of Lansing, Kan. (38th-13:59.36), Jenna Wagoner of Wamego, Kan. (47th-14:20.48), Jessica Davis of Freeman, Mo. (54th-14:40.86) and Erin Eustice of Lansing, Kan. (66th-15:22.81).

    Freshman James Tong of Kansas City, Mo., paced the men harriers, finishing fifth overall in a time of 15:57.17.  That time is 54 seconds faster than JCCC’s top performer in the 2005 meet.   His average mile time over the 5k course was 5:08.1.

    Also turning in impressive efforts were freshmen Alex Troncoso of Kansas City, Mo., Trevor Johannsen of Clinton, Mo., Matt Bilhimer of Overbrook, Kan., and Daniel Everhart of Kansas City, Kan.  All four placed in the top-20.  Troncoso finished 16th with a time of 16:47.73, followed by Johannsen in 17th with a time of 16:49.52.  Bilhimer and Everhart placed 19th and 20th respectively, with times of 17:00.51 and 17:01.86.

    Rounding out JCCC’s team were freshman Keith Cowart of Baldwin City, Kan., (30th-17:20.03), sophomore David Franz of Belton, Mo. (31st-17:21.46), freshman Dan Quillin of Olathe South (52nd-18:11.08) and sophomore Jason Sorn of Shawnee Mission Northwest (68th-18:54.79).