KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, IND. – The weather cooperated and the races were close at the 2009 Indiana State University Pre-National Invitational Saturday even though the course was soft from the recent rains and a strong wind blew in from the northwest.
The Indiana State men’s cross country team finished 19th in the team standings of the Men’s Blue Race with 485 points.
“It was a mixed bag of results for us just as it is in every competition,” John McNichols, Indiana State men’s cross country coach, said. “Jeremiah Vaughan led us for the first time in his career at Indiana State and Scott Keeney broke into the top 100 for the first time in his career.”
Jeremiah Vaughan led the Sycamore effort, finishing 79th overall with a time of 24:56.9. Scott Keeney was right behind in 89th spot with a time of 25:03.4 while Eric Schulz finished 97th with a time of 25:07.5. Indiana State’s Michael Disher came in 106th with a time of 25:14.4 and Craig Padgett finished 114th in 25:22.5 to round out the ISU scoring.
Also for Indiana State, Andrew Lepkowski was 136th overall with a time of 25:33.8 and Dustin Betz finished 185th with a time of 26:07.9.
“We beat Michigan State who was ranked ahead of us and also beat Illinois State again pretty soundly,” McNichols said.
A total of 238 runners representing 34 teams competed in the Men’s Blue Race.
The Sycamores have a couple of weeks off before competing in the 2009 Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Championships on the Newman Golf Course in Peoria, Ill. The championships are being hosted by Bradley University and will be held on Saturday, Oct. 31.
MEN’S BLUE RACE
Defending NCAA champion and currently seventh ranked Oregon won the Men’s 8,000 Meter Blue Race with 79 points and the Ducks Luke Puskedra took the individual title with a time of 23:40.2. Third ranked Alabama was second in the team standings with 114 points with second ranked Northern Arizona third (115 points), ninth ranked William & Mary fourth (128 points), and 14th ranked Washington fifth (183 points).
Butler’s Andy Baker took second in the individual race with a time of 23:45.4 followed by a pair of Northern Arizona runners with Jordan Chipangama third in 23:47.8 and Diego Estrade fourth in 23:49.0. Jon Grey of William & Mary was fifth in 23:54.3.
MEN’S WHITE RACE
Top ranked Stanford ran away with the Men’s 8,000 Meter White Race scoring 47 points. Stanford was led by Chris Derrick who won the individual title with a time of 23:27.1. Fourth ranked Colorado was second with 130 points, sixth ranked Brigham Young was third (163 points), eighth ranked Portland fourth (211 points), and 12th ranked Iona was fifth (218 points).
Samuel Chelanga of Liberty was second in the individual race with a time of 23:34.6 with Stanford’s Elliott Heath third in 23:39.6. Iona’s Ryan Sheridan placed fourth in 23:46.7 while Minnesota’s Hassan Mead was fifth in 23:49.2.
WOMEN’S BLUE RACE
Colorado’s Jenny Barringer captured her third straight Pre-National individual championship, leading the Buffaloes to the team win in the Women’s 6,000 Meter Blue race with a time of 19:50.9. Colorado, ranked 19th nationally, won the team title with 94 points with 11th ranked Florida State second with 135 points. Fourth ranked Oregon placed third (169 points) with 13th ranked Georgetown fourth (200 points), and sixth ranked Stanford fifth (206 points).
Florida State’s Susan Kuijken finished second in the individual race with a time of 20:20.8 with Oregon’s Jordan Hasay third (20:33.0), UTEP’s Risper Kimaiyo fourth (20:33.9), and Western Kentucky’s Janet Jesang fifth (20:34.5).
WOMEN’S WHITE RACE
Top ranked Washington ran away with the Women’s 6,000 Meter White Race team title, scoring 59 points to top ninth ranked Florida, who was second with 89 points. Fifth ranked Princeton finished third with 126 points while 15th ranked Syracuse came in fourth with 191 points, and 18th ranked Illinois was fifth with 206 points.
Angela Bizzarri of Illinois was the individual race winner with a time of 20:27.8 with Washington’s Kendra Schaaf second in 20:29.0. Minnesota’s Megan Duwell finished third in 20:31.5 with the Huskies taking the next two spots with Katie Follett fourth in 20:37.7 and Christine Babcock fifth in 20:38.2.
Courtesy: ISU Athletics
