Ephrata graduate part of title-winning cross country team

CEDARVILLE, Ohio - Ephrata High School graduate Amanda Evans, a freshman runner for the North Central University women's cross country team, was part of a squad that claimed its second straight National Christian Colleges Athletic Association Division II national championship last Saturday.

Evans ran a career-best time of 23 minutes, 2 seconds on the 5,000-meter Elvin King Memorial Course at Cedarville University, good for 15th place. She was one of five North Central runners to place in the top 15. Junior Stephanie Christensen was third overall at 20:31, freshman Amanda Trombley was fourth in 20:57, freshman Joie Ybarra was sixth in 21:43, and junior Angela Riley was 11th in 22:18.

The Rams scored 39 points to defeat runner-up Baptist Bible College by 13. Their seven-runner lineup also included sophomore Molly Mandigo (21st in 23:58) and Katie Osterbauer (28th in 24:39).

North Central's men's team also won its second consecutive national title, scoring 59 points to hold off second-place Toccoa Falls College of Georgia by three.

Sophomore Dan Bare finished second overall in 26:54 on the 8,000-meter course, a time that placed him second on the school's all-time list.

The Rams' men's and women's program have enjoyed a tremendous three-year run of success, combining for five team national championships, 11 All-American runners and two individual national champions.