Lake Forest College Cross Country  News & Notes November 14, 1998  Contact:  Scott Rucker, SID  For Immediate Release  CROSS COUNTRY COMPETES IN REGIONAL MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME      For the first time in school history, members of a Lake Forest College cross country team participated in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Meet.  Head Coach Mike Wajerski set two goals for his team on Saturday; "We wanted to run faster times and gain the experience of going to regionals.  So from that perspective, it was a successful weekend."       At this year's regional meet, which was hosted by Washington University at Forest Park Golf Course in St. Louis, MO, the Lake Forest men's team finished 25th (out of 28 teams).  The Midwest Regional is regarded as the best regional meet in the country.  The top finisher for the men was freshman Joe Zemaitis, who finished 126th out of 197 runners with a time of 28:08.  Senior Ben Lampe, running in the final race of his LFC career, finished 146th.  Lampe holds the Lake Forest career record for most runners beat (1,791) and has the second highest career winning percentage (.364).  Additionally, he has 7 of the top 25 8-kilometer times at LFC.  Other participants for the Foresters included Dexter Thornton (168th, 29:55), Charles Evans (175th, 30:18), Zach Warmack (176th, 30:26) and Carlos Obando (183rd, 31:02).  Coach Wajerski added, "Our guys were a little ambitious and went out too fast.  But they hung on fairly well, knowing it was their last race of the year.  They ran above average times and Carlos and Zack ran career bests."       Sophomore Sarah Simpson and freshman Jennifer McGuire competed for the women.  Out of 187 runners, Simpson finished 135th with a time of 20:49.  McGuire followed just 14 runners later with a time of 21:25.  Coach Wajerski added, "Again in the women's race, we went out a little too fast, but once again, Sarah and Jennifer did a nice job of hanging in there.  Both ended up running season bests."       The 1998 season provided Lake Forest with several firsts, including hosting a cross country meet and running at regionals for the first time in school history.  This year's teams will remain primarily intact next season.  The men's team graduates only Lampe and the women's team graduates Christine McLaughlin.