Moraine Valley women's cross country runs into record book in 2015

Saying the Moraine Valley Community College women’s cross country team achieved something during the 2015 season would be putting it mildly. Saying they overachieved might be more accurate: They successfully defended two crowns, claimed a host of individual honors, and ran into the record book.

A core group of returning sophomores and a talented group of freshmen combined to race as the most successful women’s cross country team to date. They won back-to-back Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference and NJCAA Region IV Division I championships for the first time in the history of the program, placed four runners on the All-Conference and All-Region teams and finished as the 32nd best team in the nation on Nov. 14.

“At the beginning of the season, we discussed what our goals would be, and the sophomores told me that when they finished their season last year at nationals, they were determined to return to the national stage. And the only way they were going to do so was to win regionals. They also were determined to repeat as conference champs—it was a matter of pride,” said Coach Mark Horstmeyer, who was named Conference and Region Coach of the Year for the second straight year. “I am so very proud of them.”

The four returnees were led by Abby Correa (Oak Forest), who became the seventh Cyclone to earn All-Conference and All-Region honors both years. Making up the rest of that core group were Crystal Flores (Argo) and Shepard alumnae Amy Miller and Jackie Navarrete. Flores and Navarrete earned All-Conference and All-Region honors in 2014. “These four women are very special for what they accomplished and how they have grown during that time. I cannot say enough positives of what they have meant to our program and how they have represented Moraine Valley. I wish we could keep them, but I know they will contribute significantly at the next level. The schools they choose will be very fortunate to have them. I will really miss them,” said Horstmeyer, who finished his 16th season leading the program.

But all is not lost for the Cyclones. Three of the team’s top five runners were freshmen—Hannah Funk (Sandburg) and Reavis grads Yuliana Olivares and Stephanie Majewski, all of whom earned All-Conference and All-Region honors. The remaining two team members also were freshmen— Reavis products Gabby Plewa and Weronika Staszel.

“This was a special season for us. We had to rely on depth as we did not have a ‘burner’ like some teams did. All of the girls had to come together as a team with more new runners than old, deal with the pressure of trying to become the first team to win titles two years in a row and deal with injuries and/or illness, and train and compete in crappy weather. They did so unflinchingly. They kept their focus and never strayed from reaching their goals,” Horstmeyer said, “As a result, the season became one for the record book.”