For all the talk of the perfect storm in weather reports this week, the John Carroll women's cross country team was hoping for one Saturday at the 2012 Ohio Athletic Conference Championships.

The perfect storm, unfortunately for the Blue Streaks, was diverted by Polar Bears.

In cross country, a 1-2 punch can often seal the deal for a team seeking to win the competition. The Ohio Northern University Polar Bears did just that on Saturday at Wilmington College, as senior Allison Steinbrunner became the first-ever runner to win the OAC cross country title four years in a row.

Following her was senior teammate Lydia Weaver in second place. ONU used a 52-point scoring total to outdistance Mount Union (62 points) and John Carroll (72 points).

Complete Results

For only the second time all season, sophomore Emily Mapes led the Blue Streaks, covering the six-kilometer course in 23:11.1 and finishing fourth overall. Gabriella Kreuz was close behind in sixth place with a time of 23:31.2. Kreuz admitted to having an off day, but was glad that Mapes had her back and stepped up for an impressive finish. Mapes and Kreuz both earned first team All-OAC selections with their top nine finishes.

“Gab and I got straight out, and were in the top five from the start, so that was great positioning,” Mapes commented after the race. “All we were thinking about was the team, the team…we just wanted it so bad.”

“I wasn't just running for myself – the team helped get me through this, and that's what made me go,” Mapes continued. “I think we're in a good position for the Regional meet."

Coming on strong in this meet was junior Caroline Kapela, placing 17th with a time of 24:28.9. Kapela, who did not run for JCU as a freshman, earned her first All-Conference honor by placing in the top 18. Runners four through six for the Streaks were tightly packed together, as Taylor Whisler, Jenny Vrobel, and Hanna Sterle finished in 22nd, 23rd, and 24th place, running 24:41.5, 24:42.9, and 24:44.2.

“We went out, we followed the race plan. They ran hard out there, and I think they left everything they had out on the course,” remarked head coach Dara Ford.

Rounding out the top seven for John Carroll was junior Alyssa Singer, finishing 34th in 25:06.7.

“Their focus going into the Regional meet is to be in the top five teams and earn a spot in the national championships,” Ford continued. “They're going to have to pack up a little bit more, for sure, but they ran a pretty sound strategic race today.”

While only two teams from each region automatically qualify, the deep Great Lakes region will
likely have three at-large qualifiers.

The John Carroll women will refocus for the next two weeks, and will look to earn a spot at the NCAA Championships when they compete on November 10, at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional meet in Anderson, Indiana.

Live updates of the Blue Streaks can be found on Twitter under the handle @RUNwithJCU, and their training logs can be followed on the John Carroll University team page on www.running2win.com.