The Central College men’s and women’s cross country team’s competed at the University of Dubuque this weekend in the Iowa Conference Cross Country Meet. The Dutch women were the story of the day, pulling out a surprise third-place finish, despite a lineup that has almost completely changed since last season; while the Central men finished in seventh place. Both squads from Luther won the team titles.

On the women’s side, sophomore Mel McDermott led the Dutch with a 16th place finish on the 6,000-meter course, and Pella High graduate Amanda Dunkin finished 39th. For the Central men, freshman Austin O’Brien was the team’s best finisher, completing the 8,000-meter course in 17th place, freshman John Klein of Pella finishing 35th. Both squads head to Waverly for the NCAA Division III Central Regional meet Nov. 13, which will determine the qualifiers for the national meet Nov. 20, also in Waverly.