Floods chase Augie, other cross country teams away from Credit Island track

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By Steve Batterson | Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:04 AM CDT | () comments

A highly ranked Augustana men’s cross country team will forge a different path when it hosts the annual Brissman-Lundeen Invitational this weekend.

Summertime flooding at Davenport’s Credit Island has left the Vikings’ normal home course unavailable for competition, forcing 10th-ranked Augustana to relocate not only this weekend’s invite but also the NCAA Division III regional it is scheduled to host Nov. 15.

The Brissman-Lundeen meet, which typically attracts a field of more than 400 runners, has been moved to Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island. It will take place at 4 p.m. Saturday, one day later than originally scheduled.

The NCAA regional will take place at either Saukie or Highland Springs.

Vikings coach Paul Olson said city officials in Davenport and Rock Island have been helpful in working with Augustana to keep the competition in the Quad-Cities.

“We’re thankful for the assistance we’ve had from both cities, and while the courses in Rock Island are not as flat as the course at Credit Island, we’re glad to have a place to call home,” Olson said.

Several high school teams also have been displaced.

This Saturday’s Rock Island Invitational, which features Illinois and Iowa Quad-City teams, has been moved to Milan’s Camden Park. The Oct. 2 Davenport city meet also was slated for Credit Island before relocating to Emeis Golf Course.

Olson is thankful because the Vikings are fielding what he labels not only his program’s most talented, but its deepest team in 20 years.

Augustana demonstrated that potential Friday, finishing sixth in the 25-team Illinois Intercollegiate. Division I teams Illinois, Illinois State and Loyola, junior-college power Rend Lake and Division III power North Central were the only teams to top the Vikings.

“We have three athletes returning in Chris Zook, Dan Bailey and Matt Bowman who broke 15 minutes in the 5K a year ago and in Andy Kubiak we have a competitor who reached the national meet in the steeplechase last season,” Olson said.

Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com.