The Wittenberg University Tigers headed into the North Coast Athletic Confence championship meet at Oberlin College last weekend with the momentum of several straight weeks of improving performances. And while the Tigers runners continued that trend with several more season-best times, the men's team finished seventh in the league meet while the women wound up ninth.

Vince Evener of Kenyon won the men's race and led his team to the overall title. Wittenberg's top finisher was sophomore Nick Dewald (Mansfield, Ohio/Senior), who ran a strong time of 26:24.3 to finish 17th and earn Honorable Mention All-NCAC honors. His time was just 107 off Evener's winning time.

In the women's race, the Tigers had several impressive finishes, but the team as a whole just couldn't quite keep pace. Sophomore Abi Gerstle (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont) finished third in 18:50.9, which was a high enough finish for her to claim First Team All-NCAC honors. Her time was just 10 seconds off the winning time turned in by Earlham's Shannan Rieder.

Also recognized among the conference's elite was junior Sarah Weide (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Homestead), who ran 13th in a time of 19:33.3. That finish earned her in Second-Team All-NCAC status.

For most of the team's runners, the season will conclude next Saturday at the Great Lakes Regional Championships at Hanover, Ind. Only the top finishers will advance to the NCAA Division III National Championship meet in Spokane, Wash. on Nov. 18.