Courtesy of GoCobbers.com, Release: October 29, 2008

2008 MIAC Meet Conference Preview

2008 MIAC Meet Website

2008 MIAC Meet Live Webcast

Cobber MIAC Meet Preview

MOORHEAD, Minn. (10/29/08)-- The 2008 MIAC Championship is shaping up to be a muddled picture for Concordia. The Cobbers have a chance to finish anywhere from the top five all the way to ninth place. CC enters the conference meet on the heels of winning their first multi-team championship since the 2001 season. Concordia won the team title at the Crown College Invitational on Oct. 18 and has also posted a pair of runner-up finishes during the season. The Cobbers finished second at the Black Hills Invite and then again at the Jimmie Invite hosted by Jamestown College.

For the second straight year, the Cobbers will be led by Hailey Brenden (So., Rothsay, Minn.). Brenden earned her first collegiate individual championship at the Crown College Invite on Oct. 18. She ran a personal best 22:54.3 on the hilly course and bettered her time at last year’s NCAA Regional Meet where she earned All-Region honors. Brenden has recorded top four finishes in five of the six races this season and has also posted top two finishes in three of the last four meets she has raced.

Concordia has had several runners step up throughout the season. Behind Brenden will be the trio of Brittney Christianson (Sr., Glenburn, N.D.), Anna Hagen (Jr., East Grand Forks, Minn.) and Rachel Pederson (So., Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS). Christianson has been the team’s No.2 runner in five of the six meets this season and is coming off a third-place finish at the Crown Invite. Hagen has also found success in 2008. She has been a solid No.3 runner and has posted back-to-back top 10 finishes. Pederson finished in eighth place at the Crown Invite and owns the other No.2 team finish this season when she captured 10th place at the Black Hills Invite.

Cobber head coach Marv Roeske is full of anticipation for this year’s conference meet as he knows there are a group of five teams that are all bunched in the middle of the MIAC and if one of those can have a breakout meet, then they can position themselves for an outstanding top five finish.

2007 MIAC Meet Team Results

1. St Thomas - 74
2. Carleton - 76
3. St Olaf - 80
4. Bethel - 114
5. St Benedict - 123
6. Gustavus - 133
7. Concordia - 170
8. Macalester - 178
9. Hamline - 204
10. St Catherine - 324
11. St Mary's - 339
12. Augsburg - 345

2007 MIAC Meet Cobber Results

7. Concordia - 170 (24:00.08 2:00:00.40)
1. 8 - Hailey Brenden - 23:01.00
2. 16 - Maria Middleton - 23:19.30
3. 44 - Britney Barnett - 24:22.30
4. 50 - Anna Hagen - 24:37.85
5. 52 - Meagan Hansen - 24:39.95
6. ( 54) - Rachel Pedersen - 24:42.45
7. ( 60) - Ali Parsons - 24:58.15