Janet Dobyns, Luther College, Iowa City, Iowa/West
Dobyns, a junior, successfully defended her women’s individual crown at the Iowa Conference Cross Country Championships over the weekend. Dobyns, who also finished fourth as a freshman in 2005, traversed the 6,000-meter course in 22:10, 20 seconds ahead of runner-up Angie Berry of Central. The Norse won their IIAC-best 11th title and their fourth crown in five years. (IIAC Female Athlete of the Week)

Janet Dobyns, Luther College, Iowa City, Iowa/West
Dobyns, a junior, placed second out of a field of 455 runners at the UW-La Crosse Tori Neubauer Invitational. Dobyns covered the 6,000-meter course in 21:49, three seconds behind individual champion Becca Jordahl of UW-River Falls. Luther placed 7th out of 27 teams with 195 points and was the highest finishing team from the IIAC at the meet.

Mary Bridget Corken, Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert
Corken, a junior, placed fourth individually out of 154 runners at the Pre-National Invitational hosted by St. Olaf College. Corken covered the 6,000-meter course in 23:43.49, 44.8 seconds behind the top runner. Corken led the Duhawks to a second-place team finish (77 pts.), ahead of two nationally-ranked schools - Grinnell and Puget Sound.

Janet Dobyns, Luther College, Iowa City, Iowa/West
Dobyns, a junior, placed third individually out of 567 runners in the Maroon (Division III) race at the Roy Griak Invitational hosted by the University of Minnesota. Dobyns traversed the 6,000-meter course in 22:33.85, 32.3 seconds behind the winner and just 2.85 seconds out of second place. She led the Norse to a ninth-place team finish (330 points) in a field that featured eight teams ranked in the USTFCCCA’s Top 35. (IIAC Female Athlete of the Week)

Emily VanOosbree, Wartburg College, Emmetsburg, Iowa/Emmetsburg
VanOosbree, a junior, placed second at the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Open. Competing in a multi-divisional field of 243 runners, VanOosbree traversed the 6,000-meter course in 23:35.12, just 4.49 seconds behind the winner. The top Iowa Conference finisher at the meet, her finish helped Wartburg to a third-place finish. The Knights finished ahead of No. 6-ranked Luther, No. 11-ranked UW-Eau Claire, No. 19-ranked Carleton, and No. 21-ranked UW-Platteville in the final team standings.

Ashley Schnell, Coe College, Lincoln, Neb./North Star
Schnell, a freshman, placed third in a field of 135 runners at the Les Duke Invitational hosted by Grinnell College. Schnell completed the 6,000-meter course in 23:03, trailing the winner by 41 seconds. Her third-place finish was the highest of any IIAC competitor and helped the Kohawks to a sixth-place team finish (170 points).