ATHLETICS
UPDATE
A BANNER YEAR FOR CROSS COUNTRY BOBCATS
It was a record setting day for the women ’ s crosscountry team as they competed in the NJCAA DII National Championship in Ft . Dodge , Iowa on November 14 , according to Steve Winterling , PHSC Athletic Director . The team entered the championship ranked 10th in the country and looking to avenge their FCSAA Region 8 loss to seventh-ranked Daytona State College two weeks prior .
“ On a grey , cloudy 45-degree day and winds blowing 10-15 mph , PHSC ran their best race of the season on a rolling hill golf course ,” said Winterling . Jensen Mayer led the team with a 5K ( 3.1 miles ) time of 20:26 , finishing 25th overall to earn All-American honors . Katerina Dobkowski was the second Bobcat to cross the finish line with a time of 21:00 followed by Sydney Stoltzfoos ( 21:32 ), Emily Jenkins ( 21:38 ), Gabrielle Marshall ( 21:44 ), Hayley Schaefer ( 21:51 ) and Jessica Perez ( 22:12 ).
The team averaged a season best of 21:16 to finish seventh overall edging out Daytona State College ( 21:19 average ) who finished eighth . “ I am so proud of the team ’ s accomplishments this year . Not only is this the highest ranking ever in the 16- year history of the program , six of seven Bobcat runners achieved a personal best time ,” said Jacki Wachtel , PHSC Women ’ s Cross Country Head Coach .
Cross country in action
Jessica Perez ( 15th / 1:46:42 ), Hayley Schaefer ( 17th / 1:47:40 ), and Emily Jenkins ( 18th / 1:47:49 ).
“ It was another great season for Head Coach Jacki Wachtel and Assistant Coaches Lee Rietsma and Grace D ’ Angelo ,” said Steve Winterling , PHSC Athletic Director .
Athletic Kudos – Cross Country
Katerina Dobkowski FCSAA / NJCAA Region 8 All-State NJCAA Coaches Association Half Marathon All-American Honors
Emily Jenkins NJCAA Coaches Association Half Marathon All-American Honors
Gabrielle Marshall NJCAA Coaches Association Half Marathon All-American Honors
Jensen Mayer FCSAA Women ’ s Runner of the Week ( Sept . 13 ) FCSAA / NJCAA Region 8 All-State NJCAA Coaches Association 5k All- American Honors NJCAA Coaches Association Half Marathon All-American Honors
Jessica Perez NJCAA Coaches Association Half Marathon All-American Honors
In a ( NJCAA ) decision to eliminate extra travel due to COVID-19 and keep the teams in Ft . Dodge , the annual NJCAA Half Marathon Nationals meet ( 13.1 mile race ), usually held the week after the 5K championship , took place three days later . With race temperatures at 32-38 degrees , the Cross Country Bobcat team closed out their 2020 season placing fourth at the Half Marathon . The top three PHSC runners score and averaged 1:41:01 . Sydney Stoltzfoos led the team placing 10th with a time of 1:39:14 followed by Jensen Mayer ( 11th / 1:39:49 ), Gabrielle Marshall ( 13th / 1:44:49 ), Katerina Dobkowski ( 14th / 1:46:08 ),
Hayley Schaefer NJCAA Coaches Association Half Marathon All-American Honors
Sydney Stoltzfoos FCSAA / NJCAA Region 8 All-State NJCAA Coaches Association Half Marathon All-American Honors
12 PHSC