XC Times: September 22, 2017

XC Times September 22, 2017 – THE NEWS XC FANS DEPEND ON – A GENNETT COMPANY

The Brissman-Lundeen Invitational XC Times Editorial Board The Brissman-Lundeen Invitational is a big meet and it will be a big test for the Storm Men and Women. It is a huge field and will certainly give us all an insight on how the Storm stack up against some of the best teams in the Midwest. While the list of teams is rather fluid right now, the storm can expect to pace some familiar foes from the IIAC such as Dubuque University, Buena Vista University and Coe College.

The Women’s Race Being new to the D3, IIAC and Simpson I have yet to learn the subtleties of our conference and area rivals. I generally do not know who is good and who is not so good, so I am learning as we go. I do know something about our team however, and I know that the women are ready to get after it today.

Our women are getting closer and closer to being at full strength for today’s meet. Courtney Neunendorf and Ashley Litterer will be at the line today after being held out of last week’s Grand View meet with some nagging injuries. Whether Audrey Klein will run today, will be a late day decision, depending how her recovery is feeling. Of course, we want Audrey at her best for the most important meets later in the season.

Look for Sadie Timms to continue to run well and to challenge upfront. Mary Wood continues to surprise and impress this season. Mary continues to learn pace and race strategy, but Mary is a hunter and certainly not the hunted.

Men’s Race Our coaching staff is very much looking forward to this meet. This will be the first time our men run an 8k, which is the championship distance for our later meets. This will be an exciting day for a lot of our men, as 11 of them will race in their first ever 8k.

We’ve been attending this meet for many years, and our teams always enjoy the meet. It’s a fast, flat course with great competition from across the Midwest. It’s vital we race well on Friday, as we will quickly shift out focus to our meet the following week at Waverly, which will host the IIAC conference championship. Another reason for added excitement for tomorrow’s meet is that our men will be wearing new jerseys for the first time since the 2010 season!

With new jerseys, many newcomers toeing the line, and a great course, we are excited for the opportunity to race!

XC Times September 22, 2017 – THE NEWS XC FANS DEPEND ON – A GENNETT COMPANY

Who Are Brissman and Lundeen?

Leroy Brissman and Vince Lundeen were the founding fathers of cross country at Augustana College, and this meet is named in their honor.

When discussing the most impactful people in the history of athletics at Augustana College, the name of Vince Lundeen will come up quickly. Included in his nearly 40-year legacy is the establishment of the very Hall of Fame into which he is inducted this evening.

In an Augustana career which spanned from 1941 to 1982 in various capacities both in and out of athletics, Lundeen served two stints as the school’s director of athletics totaling 17 years. In addition, over a period of 14 years, he totaled 34 seasons as a head coach for five different sports. He was Vince Lundeen named the first building director of Augustana’s stateLeroy Brissman of-the-art athletics complex completed in 1972, later dubbed the Roy J. Carver Physical Education Center, and was the driving force behind the creation of the Tribe of Vikings Hall of Fame (known as the Hall of Honor until 2002), which inducted its first class in 1977.

Lundeen took over as head coach of the Viking track & field program for the 1947 season and added head wrestling coaching duties the following year. In the fall of 1951, he was named to succeed Lee Brissman as director of athletics and was also tabbed as Augustana’s head football coach—all while still leading the track and wrestling programs.

Lundeen’s first stint as director of athletics ended in 1959 when he was named director of the new College Union. He retained that position after being named building director for the Physical Education Center in 1971, but left the College Union in the fall of 1973 to again become director of athletics. He resigned his building director duties in 1974, but remained as Augustana’s A.D. until his retirement in 1982.

Lundeen’s second go-round leading the Viking athletic department yielded a total of 37 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin championships—an average of more than four per year during a time when the conference sponsored just nine sports. In his final year of 1981-82, Augustana was even more dominant, claiming conference titles in seven of nine sports.

During Lundeen’s second tenure as A.D., Viking athletic programs excelled at the national level as well, recording a total of 23 top-ten finishes. Augustana men logged at least one top-10 national finish in seven different sports, including five each in basketball and track & field and four in cross country. During the 1980-81 school year, each of those three programs finished second in the nation.

“For me, success is having peace of mind,” said Lundeen toward the end of his time at Augustana. “And knowing you’re doing your best; being loved by your family and friends and being able to make a contribution to youth, church and community.”

LeRoy Brissman attended Augustana College from 1927-1932. While at Augie, Brissman competed in three sports earning him a total of 10 letters. Brissman was a guard and tackle in football, a dashman in track, and a guard in basketball.

His greatest competitive love was football. Here he earned All-Conference and All-State honors during his senior year. He was also elected Captain in both track and football by his teammates. As a great athlete, Brissman is welcomed into Augustana’s Hall of Honor.

XC Times September 22,2017 – THE NEWS XC FANS DEPEND ON – A GENNETT COMPANY

Behind the Ropes

By Vicki Beckman “Little Girl, Big Dreams” One of the first things you notice about Lauren is her smile. It’s big, infectious and always there.

Lauren has always been active in sports a catcher on her softball team, playing point for basketball, midfielder in soccer not an easy task when you are the smallest in your family, on your team or in your class. Not many wanting to give you a chance because you’re too little.

Then along comes a High School Cross Country coach who loves this sport and only wants his runners to BELIEVE and TRY. He didn’t care if you were fast, slow, tall, short, competitive or trying to keep in shape. Believe in yourself and Try your best, sounds simple doesn’t it.

Each race, each practice, each summer of extra training miles and lifting weights, each second dropped for a new PR only increased the smile on her face.

Now High School has ended and she is debating on Cross Country at Simpson College doubting again the too small, legs too short, not as fast as the other girls. But after meeting with Coach Heath she decided to give it a try. Nervous as she was that freshman fall she moved to campus a week ahead to join the team for training. She never looked back.

In this team, she found an accepting family of new and supporting friends that have been such an amazing part of her Simpson College career. One of her first meets her freshman season was the Grand View meet in 100 + degree weather, high humidity and a lot of hills! You felt so bad for the runners struggling up one of the last hills then as Lauren nears the top she has her smile all over her face. Luckily someone captured that picture and it was presented to her the next year as the most improved runner.

Now half way through her senior cross country season at Simpson my little girl is still chasing big dreams with graduate school just around the corner.

The worn-out practice shoes piled in the corner of her closet, dirty socks smelling up the place she is the happiest after her long runs. Dripping with sweat and smiling from ear to ear.

Cross Country taught her to believe and try, a life lesson not found in every classroom.

It has been a wonderful four years and Simpson will always hold a special place in this family’s heart. While Lauren is still the smallest on her team she has one of the biggest hearts and running will always be a part of her world.

XC Times September 22, 2017 – THE NEWS XC FANS DEPEND ON – A GENNETT COMPANY

In the Chute

By Ian McKenzie

As the early weeks of my final cross country season unfold, it's humbling to reflect on where running as taken me over the past 10 years. With my early days starting at Holy Trinity Catholic School in Des Moines, and transitioning to high school at Dowling Catholic and now Simpson College, it's hard to not feel blessed that I can continue to do what I love.

Running, training, and competing has taught me many lessons about life, friendship, leadership, hard work, and many others. It has also allowed me to form lifelong friendships that I will cherish forever. I have been fortunate enough to have run on multiple podium finishing and championships teams at the Iowa State Cross Country meet while at Dowling Catholic, qualify for NXN in 2012, and run on three Simpson College school record running relays. However, these are not my most fond memories I have from running.

My most fond memories of my running career are those that I have made with my great friends and teammates during hard workouts, early morning long runs, late night homework sessions, and easy jogging on Saturday mornings. I have learned that no one remembers how fast we ran but everyone remembers how much fun we had doing it. If everyone comes to practice each day with a good attitude and the willingness to work hard and run fast there is no limit to the success that we can have as a team this year.

Choosing to study and run at Simpson has been the best decision I’ve made in my life thus far, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. It has provided me many opportunities for success on and off the track and allowed me to make many great relationships and friendships.

XC Times September 22, 2017 – THE NEWS XC FANS DEPEND ON – A GENNETT COMPANY

Coaches Introducing Jamie Busby I have called Simpson College my home since 2010 when I started my undergraduate career. During my time at Simpson, I was a multi-sport athlete competing on the national tournament qualifying basketball team and the track & field team. I graduated with majors in Accounting, Business Management, and Economics with an emphasis in Finance.

Upon graduation in 2013 I went to work at a public accounting firm, KPMG, in Des Moines. It was at this time that I met my now husband, Cal, who is an assistant professor in the Sports Science and Health Education Department at Simpson College. We got married in April of 2016, at Simpson, of course!

So how did I get lucky enough to coach Simpson College Cross Country? After a few years in public accounting I realized that something was missing and went back to school and got my Master of Arts in Teaching from Simpson College. This has allowed me to be a high school business teacher (at Southeast Polk High School) and teach accounting which I love, while also being able to coach!

Everyday after school I look forward to getting back on Simpson’s campus and interacting with the dedicated and hardworking Storm men and women. I have also really enjoyed recruiting high school athletes and sharing all of the incredible experiences I had as a student-athlete and all of the opportunities that Simpson College has provided me. I can honestly tell these runners that choosing to be a part of the Storm family was one of the best decisions of my life. I am so thankful that I still get to call Simpson College home!

GO STORM!

XC Times September 22, 2017 – THE NEWS XC FANS DEPEND ON – A GENNETT COMPANY

Our Next Meets Friday September 29th Dan Huston Invitational Waverly, IA 10:30a

Down the Road Saturday October 14th Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer Invitational La cross, WI 10:30a Simpson Storm X-Country FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK and Twitter

Women’s 6K Course

Men’s 8k Course