- Top returnees are sophomores Wendy Liera, Natalie Martin and Natalia Segura
- Incoming freshmen are Madison Beaune, Mercedes Beaune, Jillian Prouty and Mkenzie Robinson
- Segura and Robinson expected to lead the team
The DMACC women's cross country team will open the 2022 season with its participation in the Bill Buxton Invitational today at Indianola.
"This is easily going to be the best DMACC women's team we've ever seen," said DMACC women's cross country coach Michael Melchert. "We have some very quality sophomores and we've added some very quality freshmen who have a lot they can improve on from their high school training so it will be exciting to see what this women's team can do."
Melchert welcomes returning sophomores in Wendy Liera of LeGrand, Natalie Martin of Norwalk and Natalia Segura of Grimes. Incoming freshmen are Madison Beaune of Jewell, Mercedes Beaune of Jewell, Jillian Prouty of Oelwein and Mkenzie Robinson of Marshalltown.
Segura is the top returnee, placing 13th or higher in four meets last fall, including placing third in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Region XI Championship. She was ninth in the Indian Hills Invitational, 12th in the Bill Buxton Invitational and 13th in the Grand View Invitational.
Melchert said Segura and Robinson are potentially the Bears' top two runners and that the key to the season will be finding runners for the next three spots. Robinson, a graduate of East Marshall High School, qualified for the Class 2A state meet last fall and finished 26th, posting a time of 20 minutes, 24 seconds on the 5K course.
"It will be exciting to see what she can do at the collegiate level," Melchert said. "The key for the women is kind of going to be up to the third-, fourth- and fifth-place runners to see what we can do."
The DMACC women's cross country team will compete in five meets this fall, including the NJCAA Region XI Championship Oct. 30 at Fort Dodge. The NJCAA National Championship will be held Nov. 12 at Tallahassee, Fla.