Favorable weather and a trouble-free course led to a successful intramural cross country race Sunday afternoon. The two-mile race took place on the ISU Cross Country Course located near the Towers residence complex.

Thirty-eight students participated in the event. Divisions were determined by age and gender, with a total of six division winners.

Members of the ISU track and field and cross country teams were ineligible to compete.

Devin Cory, freshman in industrial engineering, had the fastest overall time at 10 minutes, 36 seconds. Cory used to run competitively, but now just does it for fun. He said this race set the standard for his running.

“I love to run,” Cory said. “I run everyday. I just go out and get lost and then find my way back.”

Other students participating in the race shared similar philosophies.

Steve Arntson, freshman in pre-business, earned second place overall with a time of 10:47.

“I ran in high school,” Arntson said.

“I like staying in shape, and stuff like this keeps me motivated.”

Arntson said the intramural course was slightly easier than the traditional course outlined on the facilities.

“There was one hill that normally can be tough because you run down and then have to run back up,” Arntson said. “That part was deleted.”

Some students looked at this race as an opportunity to get in shape for upcoming holiday races.

“I run in a lot of races around Thanksgiving; this is kind of a warm up,” said Brian Lapcewich, sophomore in mechanical engineering.

Lapcewich enjoyed the weather of the sunny day with a high temperature of 49 degrees.

“This is a lot warmer than the other races I run in where the temperature is only 10 to 15 degrees,” he said.

An extra incentive was given at the cross country race to those who could guess their own time.

The closest predicted times won an intramural champion shirt. Participants choosing this option were unable to wear watches to prevent them from cheating.

Two students had successful guesses.

Nick Howard, sophomore in mechanical engineering, had the closest prediction.

Howard’s actual time of 11:27 was only two seconds away from his predicted completion time of 11:25.

Katie Flickinger, sophomore in dietetics, was 30 seconds off her predicted time. Flickinger also placed first in the women’s 20-years-old division with a time of 15:30.

Many students choose to stick around after the race and talk with other competitors.

The participants were smiling and sipping on provided water. Most of the students were happy with the event and their participation.

“I think it was a successful, well-organized event,” Arntson said.