Loller Captures Second in HCAC Championships

Anderson University women's cross country sophomore Noelle Loller (Lapel, Ind./Lapel) captured second place in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Championships on Sunday at Tom Sawyer Park in Louisville, Ky.

Loller clocked a 6K time of 23 minutes, 46.96 seconds, garnering first-team all-conference honors. The Lapel native crushed her personal record (PR) by 1:05.3.

"I'm really happy with how I did," Loller said. "Ever since the cross country regular season got cancelled, I've been putting in the work and I feel like all the pieces connected [on Sunday]. I'm ready to start outdoor training and keep pushing forward."

"Obviously we're all proud of the performance by Noelle," Coach Sol Stephens said. "Step by step and day by day, she's been chipping away at being better to achieve her goals. She's believing in her investments and [on Sunday], she saw the gains to receive her rewards by finishing as the conference runner-up."

As Loller arrived at Anderson University, she utilized her surroundings to rejuvenate her distance-running career.

"I think I have found my passion for running more since coming to Anderson," Loller said. "I was always committed and dedicated to it, but coming here with the teammates, the atmosphere and the coaches I have, I have found a new drive for it."

Loller is looking forward to the outdoor season as well as the cross country season in the fall.

"[For outdoor], I'll be competing in the 10K," Loller said. "I'm hoping I can get all-conference and make nationals. [For cross country], I think this is a good starting point for next year. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how much faster I can get and hopefully get an all-American in there and nationals, so we'll keep pushing forward."

Emilie Penick (Brookville, Ohio/Brookville) raced to 23rd with a time of 26:28.47.

"Our team did great! The effort definitely showed all the work we have been putting in," Penick said. "From here on out, we are going to keep setting goals and one day we will achieve them. I didn't have the best race personally. Sometimes you have a bad race and there is nothing you can do about it but having a team that will be there for you and put a smile back on your face is everything. Even though I didn't have a great race, I know I can count on my girls to be there."

Callie Guthrie (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek) earned 37th with a time of 27:36.14.

"I loved being able to race [on Sunday]," Guthrie said. "We have been putting in so much work since August for cross country and [on Sunday] we got to make it all worthwhile. I love our team so much. We are tiny but mighty and we are getting better every day."

"Emilie and Callie had pleasing runs for their first course race in over a year," Stephens said. "It gives them a positive experience for the expectations of what it takes to compete at this level. The best part is they're looking forward to the challenges ahead from now through these next six weeks of outdoor to October 30 for the cross country championships."