Post by rainman on Nov 25, 2008 15:26:19 GMT -5
Bland leads WVU to 4th at NCAA meet
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The West Virginia University cross country team finished in fourth place at the NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championships Monday, marking the highest ever finish in school history.
“Bottom line is that first we wanted to improve upon last year’s ninth-place finish, and we wanted to be in the top five,” Coach Sean Cleary said.
“The top four teams get trophies, so we moved that goal up to finish in the top four and we’re bringing home a trophy. I’m just thrilled for this team. It’s been a great year, and I just hope that the momentum will continue to increase.
Fairview native and junior Keri Bland led the team and finished 14th with a time of 20:20, while classmate MarieLouise Asselin, a Sarnia, Ontario, native, finished 17th with a time of 20:27. With their top-40 individual finishes, Bland and Asselin earn AllAmerica honors for the second consecutive year..
“This race was the best I’ve felt in any race I’ve ever ran in my career,” Bland said.
The Mountaineers took the fourth-place finish with 198 points.
Washington took first place (79) followed by Oregon (131) and Florida State (163). WVU edged Mid-Atlantic foe Princeton by 22 points, as the Tigers finished fifth with 220 points.
Kate Harrison finished 69th (20:58), followed by Kaylyn Christopher in 110th place (21:17). Jessica O’Connell placed 160th with a time of 21:41, while Ahna Lewis placed 163rd with a time 21:42.
Texas Tech’s Sally Kipyego took first place to win her third consecutive championship title with a time of 19:29.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — The West Virginia University cross country team finished in fourth place at the NCAA Women's Division I Cross Country Championships Monday, marking the highest ever finish in school history.
“Bottom line is that first we wanted to improve upon last year’s ninth-place finish, and we wanted to be in the top five,” Coach Sean Cleary said.
“The top four teams get trophies, so we moved that goal up to finish in the top four and we’re bringing home a trophy. I’m just thrilled for this team. It’s been a great year, and I just hope that the momentum will continue to increase.
Fairview native and junior Keri Bland led the team and finished 14th with a time of 20:20, while classmate MarieLouise Asselin, a Sarnia, Ontario, native, finished 17th with a time of 20:27. With their top-40 individual finishes, Bland and Asselin earn AllAmerica honors for the second consecutive year..
“This race was the best I’ve felt in any race I’ve ever ran in my career,” Bland said.
The Mountaineers took the fourth-place finish with 198 points.
Washington took first place (79) followed by Oregon (131) and Florida State (163). WVU edged Mid-Atlantic foe Princeton by 22 points, as the Tigers finished fifth with 220 points.
Kate Harrison finished 69th (20:58), followed by Kaylyn Christopher in 110th place (21:17). Jessica O’Connell placed 160th with a time of 21:41, while Ahna Lewis placed 163rd with a time 21:42.
Texas Tech’s Sally Kipyego took first place to win her third consecutive championship title with a time of 19:29.
