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Women's season marked by near misses, individual kudos

The number 5 proved to be very unlucky for the women's team in 2007. Five points separated the Cyclones from successfully defending its conference  and regional crowns and from qualifying for the national championships, but it was not due to lack of individual effort. Two runners earned all-conference recognition and qualified for nationals, and one Cyclone received all-region honors.

Second-year runner Sandra Hubbard (Stagg) led the way with third-place finishes at the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference championship and the National Junior College Athletic Association Region IV championship. She also qualified for the NJCAA championships at Rend Lake College, Ina, Illinois, where she turned in a career-best performance. Joining Hubbard on the all-conference team was second-year runner Lisa Reitz (Oak Lawn) , who also qualified for the national championship where she too ran a personal best time. Hubbard and Reitz earned all-conference honors last year, and Hubbard received all-region recognition a year ago as well. They were members of the women's team who won the 2006 conference and region titles and finished 19^th in the national competition.

"I am extremely proud of Sandra and Lisa for what they achieved over the past two years. They were deserving of everything they accomplished, especially how they finished their Moraine Valley careers with outstanding performances at the national championship," Coach Mark Horstmeyer said.

Although the team fell a bit short of defending its titles from a year ago, the Cyclones gave a strong effort. Injuries also played a role. Second-year runner Sharon Hubbard (Stagg) was hobbled with a foot injury that prevented the 2006 all-conference selection from competing at the level she wanted to. Second-year runner Maggie Smorczewska, who helped win 2006 crowns, was bothered by a sore knee throughout the season. "I'm proud of the effort Sharon and Maggie made this year given their circumstances. At the end of the season they simply gutted it out in an effort to help the team. You can't ask for anything more than that," Horstmeyer said.

The future looks bright, however, for the Cyclones. Rounding out the top seven were three first-year runners from Lockport—Lauren Burke and Ann and Monica Gelezauskas. "They show great promise. I think it was a real learning experience for them this year. Whatever success we enjoy next fall will start with them. They will be counted on for their leadership because we will be a young team. I'm looking forward to what they will be able to do for us. I expect them to have an outstanding year. They now understand what they will have to do to get to the next level. It should prove to be an exciting year," Horstmeyer said.

Cyclones turn in top performances at NJCAA championships
Two Moraine Valley runners finished off the women's 2007 season with outstanding performances at the National Junior College Athletic Association Cross Championships on November 10 at Rend Lake, Illinois. 

Sandra Hubbard (Stagg) turned in her best performance as a Cylcone, running the 5K course in 19:56 and finishing in 92^nd place out of 209 runners. Lisa Reitz (Oak Lawn) also gave a career best performance in finishing in 20:45 and 142^nd place. Hubbard's performance capped two outstanding seasons for the sophomore. She took all-conference and all-region honors both of her seasons as a Cyclone. Reitz, who earned all-conference honors this year, also earned the honor in 2006 along with all-region recognition.

Hubbard and Reitz also led the women's team at the conference and regional championships. The Cyclones took second place at conference and third place at regional.

"To run like these girls did at this level--and on the national stage of junior college cross country--speaks to the heart they've shown me all season," Coach Mark Horstmeyer said. "The competition is unbelievably hard. They have to compete against a very strong international field as well as some of the top distance runners in the nation.  Sandra and Lisa simply did an outstanding job."

Hubbard named All-Region IV; women take 3rd

Sophomore Sandra Hubbard took home third-place honors at the National Junior College Athletic Association Region IV Division I championships on October 27 at Moraine Valley, leading her teammates to a third-place finish.

Hubbard (Stagg) earned all-region honors for the second consecutive year and will compete at the national championships on November 10 at Rend Lake College in Ina, Illinois. "Sandra ran an excellent race, and had her best time of the year. I'm proud of her effort. Her hard work has really paid off for her," said coach Mark Horstmeyer.

Joining her at the national championships will be sophomore Lisa Reitz (Oak Lawn), who took 15th place. "Lisa had to overcome a lot of leg pain to finish where she did," her coach said. "She has been bothered severely the past two weeks with pain to both her shins, and she just gutted it out. Great effort."

Also contributing were sophomore Maggie Smorczewska (Argo), 20^th; sophomore Sharon Hubbard, 21^st;  freshman Monica Gelezauskas (Lockport), 23^rd;  freshman Lauren Burke (Lockport), 24^th; and freshman Ann Gelezauskas (Lockport), 30^th.

For the second consecutive week, the number 5 proved to be unlucky. That was the margin between third and second place that prevented the women's team from qualifying for the national championships. "We all were disappointed with the outcome Saturday, but I told the girls that they have nothing to be ashamed about. It's all about competing, and unfortunately we just missed," Horstmeyer said. "The freshmen now have something to work toward next fall, and I think they already understand what they needed to do and what they will have to do to get to that next level."

Women's 5K Region IV Individual Results

Women claim runner-up spot at conference

Moraine Valley's women took second place in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference championships missing the top spot by five points. Two Cyclones earned all-conference honors.

"That was an exciting race, and it was close right to the end," coach Mark Horstmeyer said. "I was very proud of the girls' effort. We just about pulled it off."

Leading the attack was sophomore Sandra Hubbard (Stagg) with her third-place finish. Her performance earned her all-conference honors. "Sandra ran a tactical race. We talked about being patient and then seeing what she could do over the last part of the race. She responded well," her coach said. Joining her on the all-conference was sophomore Lisa Reitz (Oak Lawn), claiming 10th place. "Lisa did well. She put forth one of her best efforts of the year, and it paid off for her," Horstmeyer said.

Also contributing to the Cyclones' success were sophomore Maggie Smorczewska (Argo), 12th; freshman Lauren Burke (Lockport), 13th; freshman Monica Gelezauskas (Lockport), 15th; freshman Ann Gelezauskas (Lockport), 19th; and sophomore Sharon Hubbard (Stagg), 20th.

"I told the girls afterwards that even though we fell a few points short of what we wanted to accomplish, I was very proud of their effort. I think they proved to themselves what they are capable of doing when challenged," Horstmeyer said.