Ibarra and Johnson Lead PCC XC at Tiger Open

Pratt Community College competed in the Tiger Open on Sat., Oct. 9 at Fort Hays State University. The weather was rainy and cool, and the Beavers were seeing their toughest competition of the year on arguably the fastest course they would run on all season. The Beavers were led by Vicky Ibarra and Andrew Johnson.
 
Leading the way for the women was freshman Vicky Ibarra. Ibarra set a new personal best with a time of 22:22 finishing in 73 place out of 99 runners. Following Ibarra and battling some foot issues was sophomore Elena Botello. Botello’s time of 23:01 was her slowest of the season. But she battled her way to an 80 place finish on the day. The next Beaver to cross the line was Nikki Pyeatt, the sophomore ran 23:04, the second fastest time of her career finishing in 83 place. And the last woman to cross the line was freshman Bre Tallant. Tallant passed two runners in the final quarter mile to place 97. Her time of 27:40 was her second fastest of the season.
 
The boys followed shortly after the women, and sophomore Andrew Johnson led the way for the Beavers running a personal best time of 28:25. This time was good enough to place Johnson 107 out of 152 runners in this ultra competitive race. Following not far behind Johnson with his best race of the season was Blake Thompson. Thompson set a personal best of his own running 29:50 and placing 131 on the day. His time was almost a full two minute improvement on his previous personal best. The third man across the line was Bernardo Miranda. Miranda placed 142 with a time of 32:13. And the final man to cross the line was Chase Ward. Ward placed 145 with a time of 33:12.
 
The Beaver Cross Country team is taking a select few runners to McPherson College this Sat. Oct. 15 to run in the Lakeside Shootout. The women will run at 10:15 a.m. and the men will start shortly after at 11:00 a.m. at Wall Park in McPherson, Kan.