Lincoln College cross country    

[APRIL 20, 2004]  Lincoln College cross country coach Erin Verbeck announced Monday the signing of a letter of intent has been received from Jazzii Echols, a senior at Thornridge High School in Dolton, to compete with the Lynx next season.

Echols qualified for both the IHSA Class AA state track meet and the USATF outdoor track national meet in 2003. She is a four-year member of the Thornridge High School track and cross country teams and has earned numerous all-conference honors.

Coach Verbeck said, "I am excited she has chosen Lincoln College and look for her to be our next female all-American as she continues to develop and improve."

Road race participants

Several Lincoln College runners recently participated in a road race in Springfield, and Clint Wombles turned in the third fastest time of 210 runners in the half marathon, crossing the finish line in 1:18.35. He was first in his age division.

Other Lincoln runners were Rob Dudgeon, Tarra Bodnar, Jenine Mills, Mark Shannahan, Mary Daum and Russ Holstine. Mills was fourth in the overall women's standings and first in her age division with a time of 1:40.45. Shannahan had a time of 1:45.32 and Daum finished at 2:00.05.

Dudgeon finished fourth in the five-mile race with a time of 32:50. Bodnar and Holstine also ran the five-mile event.

"Bodnar had a strong performance in her first-ever five-mile race," said Verbeck. "I am very proud that these athletes are continuing their racing even while we are not in the cross country season. We hadn't been preparing for the race, and I am extremely pleased with the time turned in by Clint, Jenine and Tarra. Clint should be an all-American contender next season if he continues to run like this. We are anxious for next season to begin to see where we stand against other teams in our region."

[Bill Martinie, Lincoln College]

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