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Chenoweth runs to Ivy League title
Posted Online: Nov. 03, 2009, 8:27 pm
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By Daniel Makarewicz, danmak@qconline.com
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Not since 1995 had a Harvard runner won the Ivy League Heptagonal Cross Country Championship. In one memorable race, Dan Chenoweth rewrote history. The Harvard junior and Geneseo graduate earned the league's individual title last Friday, completing the course in 25:09.2. His title helped the Crimsons to a sixth-place finish overall in the eight-team event. Ironically, the last time they finished that high was 14 years ago. "Going in, I had some shin issues,"Chenoweth said. "Once I got out there, I got the adrenaline going and I didn't feel anything. Overall, I felt it was a strong effort. I thought it was a good step." Being the school's first individual champion in more than a decade puts Chenoweth in a unique group. He realized what being a conference champion meant to the program a few weeks ago. During an alumni function, Chenoweth met Ian Carswell, who was Harvard's last Ivy League champion, as well as some other runners from the 1990s. "It was cool to meet that group,"Chenoweth said. "Just to meet those guys, it was kind of a weird feeling." Weird? "I have a hard time thinking I won something like that," Chenoweth said. He better believe it. His time was the best by a Harvard league champion since Keith Colburn ran a 24:51 in 1969. Chenoweth also won the race by more than 10 seconds. "It was closer than it looks," Chenoweth said. "I didn't separate until the last 1,500 meters. ... It was a real solid effort. The point was to do what it took to win." This season, Chenoweth won a home duel against Yale and was eighth overall in the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind., last month. With the NCAA Regionals looming in less than two weeks, he's hoping to carry his recent performance into the future. "You have to be one of the top-four individuals not on an advancing team (to advance)," Chenoweth said. "The goal is to do that as easily as I can, but it's not easy. I think last year I was sixth. Hopefully, being around there will be great." - Johnson among nation's best: It didn't take long for Lauren Johnson to make an impact. The United Township graduate and Heartland Community College freshman forward compiled 17 goals and seven assists in 17 matches this season. The 41 points was the 48th-best total in the NJCAA. - Hinz developing into consistent player: Grand View freshman hitter Kathi Hinz (Moline) is fourth on the team with 182 kills and her 62 blocks ranks second. - Storm fills stat sheet: Northern Illinois sophomore Tyler Storm (Geneseo) scored five points, grabbed five rebounds, and had three assists on Sunday in the Huskies' 93-59 exhibition win over Aurora. - Boothe strong in season debut: Courtney Boothe (Moline) had three top-seven finishes for the Carthage College swimming team on Saturday. Competing against Hope College in a season-opening dual, Boothe finished third in the 1,000-meter freestyle, sixth in the 500 freestyle and seventh in the 200 butterfly. - Q-C runners show strength: North Central senior cross country runner Nathaniel Hird (Alleman) and Illinois State sophomore Aisha Praught (Moline) each had impressive individual performances last weekend. Hird finished ninth individuallly in the CCIW meet in Elmhurst, helping the Cardinals to their 36th consecutive league title. Praught was 18th at the Missouri Valley Conference meet in Peoria. As a team, the Redbirds were second. - Matzen produces for conference-winning Queen Bees: In St. Ambrose's 25-17, 25-23, 25-18 Midwest Collegiate Conferece-clinching victory over Clarke last Wednesday, freshman hitter Tori Matzen (Orion) collected five kills and four blocks. Matzen is the reigning Dispatch/Argus Area Player of the Year. Know a student-athlete who should be mentioned in the Q-C College Connection? Please send them to sportswriter Daniel Makarewicz at danmak@qconline.com 
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