Cross Country: WVU Finishes Second at Regional
November 10, 2007 04:12 PM | General
November 10, 2007
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 14 West Virginia University women’s cross country team earned an automatic bid to nationals by placing second at the 2007 NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional this afternoon in Bethlehem, Pa.
The Mountaineers totaled 77 points to finish behind regional champion Princeton, who had 56 points. Georgetown was third with 79 points, Penn State was fourth with 93 points and Villanova was fifth with 115 points.
“I’m excited that we were able to close the gap on Princeton some,” Head Coach Sean Cleary says. “They were the only team to beat us earlier this year and it was by 40 or 50 points.”
The Mountaineers were led with three runners in the top 10. WVU sophomore Marie-Louise Asselin was the highest Mountaineer finisher in third at 20:00. Clara Grandt was sixth at 20:20 and Keri Bland was just behind her in seventh at 20:21.
Asselin’s time of 20:00 was just two seconds off the previous course record of 19:58. Georgetown’s Melissa Grelli set the new course record with a time 19:50 to win the meet individually.
Freshman Kaylyn Christopher was fourth Mountaineer to finish in 21:17 for 30th. Maria Dalzot was 31st at 21:19 to round out the top five scoring runners.
Alison Spiker (22:08) and Kate Harrison (22:52) also ran, but did not count towards the team score.
“We suffered some adversity in the last few weeks with injuries and I’m just thrilled with how the girls responded today,” Cleary says. “After the BIG EAST Championship, West Virginia had a target on their back and I couldn’t be more proud of the way these young ladies handled the pressure.”
WVU will be making its fourth appearance at nationals (1997, 2000 and 2004). The 2004 team went on to place 15th at nationals, the highest finish in school history, after winning the region.
WVU had finished 18th in 2005 and fourth last year at the Mid-Atlantic Regional before earning the automatic bid today in second place.
For complete results, visit:
http://www.ncaasports.com/crosscountry/recaps/d1_midatl_women/2007
