Kemple going for AU history at national meet

You could count the number of NCAA Div. III runners that have defeated Anderson University senior Gwen Kemple on one hand during the 2007 cross country season.

Kemple advanced to this Saturday’s NCAA Div. III National Championship meet last weekend at the Great Lakes Regional, finishing second in a time of 21:31.95.

That marked only the second time this fall she had lost to another Div. III runner and both are top 10 runners nationally. Throw in runners from Div. I schools Ball State, Purdue and Valparaiso and she has lost to only six total runners this year.
“Both of them should finish in the top 10,” said AU coach Scott Wilson of the Div. III women that have defeated Kemple. “The minimum goal is All-American, but realistically our goal is to be in the top 20 and if she is lights out the top 10. The work is done, she just needs to stay relaxed and don’t do anything different than she has been all year.”

The top 35 runners at the national meet earn All-American status. The last Raven to achieve that mark was Lisa Nicholson in 2003. Nicholson also holds the highest finish by a Raven at the national meet with her ninth place finish. Only Nicholson and Monica Seal have finished in the top 10.
“She’s had an outstanding season and has been very consistent,” said Wilson. “She’s looking forward to testing herself against a group of elite runners. The way she’s running puts her in the elite list of runners in AU history. She’s running at their level.”