Timms leads women's cross country to best IIAC finish since 2009

DUBUQUE, Iowa –Sadie Timms paced the Simpson women's cross country team to a fifth-place finish at the Iowa Conference Championships on a wet, windy Saturday at Dubuque Soccer Complex.

The Storm tied Central with 135 team points, but fell to fifth on a tiebreaker. The effort is the best for the women's team since placing fourth in 2009. Loras won the team championship with 42 points and Luther's Tricia Serres won individual medalist honors. 

Simpson's No. 1 runner, Rebecca Diemer, was ailed by a stomach illness but still managed to finish the race. 

"The girls gave a great effort today. It was a total team effort," head coach Heath Moenck said.

Timms placed 20th, completing the 6k course in 24:51.5, a 13-place improvement from her freshman season. Stacie Ahlers ran well in her first IIAC Championship, coming in just behind Timms in 22nd (24:56.3). Despite her illnes, Diemer gritted out a 25th-place effort (25:14.3).

Briana McCloskey finished 36th (25:46.0), Jessica Gronke 38th (25:50.4), Breanna Gaster 41st (25:56.1) and Courtney Neuendorf 44th (26:01.9) to round out the Storm's varsity finishers.

UP NEXT
Saturday, Nov. 14 at the NCAA Central Region Championships (Pella, Iowa)

TOP FINISHERS
20. Timms, 24:51.5
22. Ahlers, 24:56.3
25. Diemer, 25:14.3
36. McCloskey, 25:46.0
38. Gronke, 25:50.4
41. Gaster, 25:56.1
44. Neuendorf, 26:01.9