Storm Cross Country Opens Strong At Central
The Simpson cross country teams opened the 2008 season with a pair of strong performances at the Central Invitational Sept. 6 in Pella. The men’s race saw the Storm take second, 18 points behind Iowa Central Community College (36-54). 
Eric Osterhaus (Sr., Waterville, Iowa, Waukon H.S.) posted the top Storm finish as he came in third with a time of 19:13, 25 seconds behind first place Stephan Dak of Iowa Central. Eric Patten (Jr., Webb, Iowa, Sioux Central H.S.) was 52 seconds behind Osterhaus which gave him an eight place overall finish. Tyler Jordison (Jr., Ft. Dodge, Iowa, Ft. Dodge H.S.) was four seconds behind Patten (20:10) to give him a ninth place showing. Casey Dunning (Jr., Marion, Iowa, Linn-Mar H.S.) charted an 18th place showing as ran a time of 20:35. Ryan Edwardson (Fr., Spencer, Iowa, Spencer H.S.) finished 18th with a time of 20:37. Matt Stone (Fr., Boone, Iowa, Boone H.S.) came in 21st in a time of 20:41. Luke Weber (So., Waukon, Iowa, Allamakee H.S.) was the final Simpson scorer as he placed 25th in a time of 20:53.
The Storm women put up a fourth place showing in their race with 92 points. Luther (46) won the team scoring race. Catie Ellingson (So., Indianola, Iowa, Indianola H.S.) timed in with a 19:24 performance over the 5,000m course to 
become the top Storm finisher. She was seventh, 1:14 behind the winner Obsie Birru of Grand View. Tricia Davis (Jr., Ft. Madison, Iowa, Ft. Madison H.S.) and Sarah Hammel (Jr., Dorchester, Iowa, Waukon H.S.) were 15th (Davis, 19:55) and 16th (20:00) for the Storm. Jess Christensen (Jr., Harlan, Iowa, Harlan H.S.) was 25th in a time of 20:32. Three freshmen, Emily Tripp (Waukee, Iowa, Boone H.S.), Rachel Smith (Marion, Iowa, Marion H.S.), and Erin Guzman (Traer, Iowa, North Iowa H.S.) completed the Storm scoring for the day. Tripp was 29th (20:48), Smith finished 34th (21:08), with Guzman placing 40th (22:09).
Complete Results for both meets can be found at the following link;