Women's Cross Country

CASTERLINE, O'CONNOR SWEEP ICCAC HONORS

CASTERLINE, O'CONNOR SWEEP ICCAC HONORS
Posted: Sep 28, 2021

Ottumwa, IA – A pair of Indian Hills Cross Country student-athletes have been recognized by the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) for outstanding individual performances on the course. Freshman Emily Casterline (Pella, IA/Belvidere) and sophomore Nick O'Connor (Tiffin, IA/Clear Creek Amana) have been named this week's ICCAC Athletes of the Week.

Both Casterline and O'Connor competed at the Grand View Invitational this past weekend where both the Warrior men and women placed second. The women entered the meet ranked No. 17 in the country while the men came in at No. 14, announced by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Casterline's performance earned a fifth place overall finish at the Grand View invite with a personal best time of 20:06 among the 65-runner meet. The freshman has now led the Warriors in each of the team's three meets to begin the season.

The conference honor is the second of the year for Casterline who was named ICCAC Athlete of the Week on Sept. 7. Casterline was also named the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Athlete of the Week on Sept. 8.

O'Connor, a returning All-American for the Warriors, also boasted a personal best time at the Grand View Invitational and finished fifth overall to pace the Warriors. O'Connor's time of 25:55 was 0.89 seconds faster than his previous 8k personal best.

O'Connor has also led the Warriors in each of the team's three meets this season.

Both runners are back in action at the Trent Smith Invitational Oct. 8 in Mason City, IA.