Wolfpack Take 3rd, Jumper Earns All-American at NJCAAs
FORT DODGE, Iowa - As they have all season, the Westmoreland County Community College women's cross country team used a total team effort at Saturday's NJCAA Championships, placing four runners in the top 18 to earn third place overall, the highest finish ever for the program at national championships.
The Wolfpack entered the race ranked fourth in the country in the last national poll before championships. The Wolfpack scored 60 points overall to overtake Georgia Military, who scored 67, for third place. Taking the national title was Joilet (Ill.) CC with 41 points, while Kellogg (Mich.) CC took second with 47 points.
Leading the Wolfpack efforts was Olivia Jumper. By crossing the finish line in a time of 22:47.75, she finished 14th overall to earn All-American accolades. Not far behind her was a group of three other Westmoreland runners, led by Anna Rubino in 16th place at 23:02.98. Coming in next in 17th place was Jen Depree in a time of 23:15.74 and Brooke Bertovich took 18th place in 23:31.09.
Completing the close finish of all the Wolfpack runners was Molleigh Henderson, who was 21st overall by crossing in 24:11.10 and in 22nd place was Nytasha Marteny with a time of 24:14.18.
The third place finish is three spots higher for the Wolfpack as a program after last year's sixth place showing at NJCAAs. Meanwhile, Jumper joined recent elite company, as she is the first Wolfpack runner to earn All-American status since 2010. The complete team effort, which saw the Wolfpack place all six of their runners in before Joilet and Kellogg placed their final runner, was a typical result for the program this year according to head coach Patrick Comer.
"The ladies worked hard to get to this point," said Comer. "They ran well as a team, finishing with a 1:26 spread between all six! And Olivia is our first All-American since 2010 when Mary Jo Jakubek won the national title.
"While this year was very special, we have a solid core in this group returning next fall and a chance to really build towards something special in the next few years," said Comer.
