15 January 2001
 


Twanow, Medendorp Share MVP Honors for
IWU Cross Country

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Seniors Casey Twanow and Andrew Medendorp were chosen as the "Most Valuable Performers" for the Illinois Wesleyan University women's and men's cross country teams, respectively.

Twanow (Spring Valley, Peru St. Bede) was the Titans' top finisher in the Mount Saint Clare invitational, where she placed fourth with a time of 20 minutes, 12 seconds, and she had her season's best time of 19 minutes, 42 seconds in placing 26th at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championships.

Medendorp (Urbana, University High), who was also the men's cross country "MVP" last season, was the team's top finisher in each of the nine meets in 2000 as well as all seven meets in 1999. Medendorp was overall medalist in three meets last fall and had his best 8,000 meter time of 25 minutes, 46 seconds in winning the eight-team Mount Saint Clare invitational.

Sophomore Colleen Kirby (Elmhurst, York HS) and senior Matt Roberts (Petersburg, Porta HS) were chosen as the cross country "Hardest Workers" while freshmen Gianina Taylor (Decatur, Eisenhower HS) and Mike Elwood (LaGrange Park, Lyons Township HS) earned the "Most Valuable Newcomer" honors for their respective squads.

Kirby is consistently among the Titans' top female finishers and had her best time of 20 minutes, 13 seconds in the CCIW meet, where she placed 41st.

Roberts, who was slowed by an ankle injury during most of the season, had his low time of 29 minutes, 26 seconds in the season-ending NCAA Division III Midwest Regional.

Taylor had a brilliant first college season as she was IWU's low finisher in eight meets. Her season-best 5,000 meter time was 19 minutes, 34 seconds which garnered a 20th place finish at the CCIW meet.

Elwood saved his best 8,000-meter run for the CCIW meet, where he posted a time of 27 minutes, 53 seconds for a finish of 50th.

Junior Michael Melick (Danvers, Stanford Olympia HS) was elected to serve as men's team captain for the 2001 season while Kirby, sophomore Betsy Yoder (Goshen, Ind., Fairfield HS), and junior Laura Tipton (Grayslake HS) will tri-captain the women's team.

The IWU women’s team was fifth in the CCIW meet last fall while the men’s team placed seventh. Head coach Chris Schumacher awarded letters to eight women and seven men. They are, with hometowns and high schools:

MEN

SENIORS - Andrew Best (San Antonio, Texas, Southeast Polk HS), Andrew Medendorp (Urbana, University High), Jim Mladic (Orland Park, Sandburg HS), Matt Roberts (Petersburg, Porta HS).
JUNIOR - Michael Melick (Danvers, Stanford Olympia HS).
FRESHMEN - Mike Elwood (LaGrange Park, Lyons Township HS); Van Miller (Deerfield HS).

WOMEN

SENIOR - Casey Twanow (Spring Valley, St. Bede Academy).
JUNIOR - Laura Tipton (Grayslake HS).
SOPHOMORES - Allison Friedrich (Newark, Sandwich HS), Colleen Kirby (Elmhurst, York HS), Penny Simons (Minier, Stanford Olympia HS), Betsy Yoder (Goshen, Ind., Fairfield HS).
FRESHMEN - Sarah Slevin (Peru, St. Bede Academy), Gianina Taylor (Decatur, Eisenhower HS).
 

CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, (309) 556-3206
and/or head coach Chris Schumacher, (309) 556-3624