A Big Leap Forward

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (9/22/18)---Concordia is starting to find their way under first-year head coach Laura Januszewski. The Cobbers, led by sophomore Munir Isahak, finished fourth at the St. Olaf Invite and were only five points behind 2017 MIAC runner-up St. Olaf.

While the meet was a success for the Cobbers as a team, it might be Isahak's breakout meet. Isahak ran a 26:21 over the 8K course and finished in second place. His time on Saturday was over a minute faster than the time he posted at least year's St. Olaf Invite when he placed 32nd.

The runner-up finish at the meet was Isahak's top finish at a multi-MIAC team invite.   

Concordia's fourth-place finish as a team included beating fellow MIAC opponent Macalester who the Cobbers lost to last year in the MIAC Meet by 67 points. The last time Concordia beat Macalester in a regular season meet was in 2011 at the U of M Roy Griak Meet.

The Cobbers had three runners finish in the Top 20 of this year's St. Olaf Invite after not having an athlete finish in the Top 30 at last year's meet. Joining Isahak in the Top 20 at the meet were junior Eric Wicklund and sophomore Noah Kneeskern.

Wicklund crossed the tape in a time of 27:28 and finished in 15th place while Kneeskern was 18th with a mark of 27:37.

The other two athletes who counted towards Concordia's team score were freshmen Leo Smith and Nolan Christenson. Smith ran a 27:59 and Christenson finished with a time of 28:15.

UP NEXT:  Concordia will compete in the Jamestown Invitational on Friday, Oct. 5 at 4 p.m.