Cleary Pleased With Finish
November 15, 2008 07:58 PM | General
November 15, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia coach Sean Cleary wanted to see how his team would respond following its disappointing second-place finish to Villanova at the 2008 Big East championships.
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| Junior Keri Bland was West Virginia's top finisher in fourth place with a time of 21:24.
Tim O'Dowd photo |
He found out Saturday. West Virginia finished ahead of the No. 5-rated Wildcats and tied No. 4 Princeton with 51 points to win this year’s NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional championship on Princeton’s home course in Princeton, N.J.
It is West Virginia’s second-ever regional title, the first coming in 2004.
“I sat with the press afterward and they asked, ‘You tied. What does that mean?’ I said it means we won the Mid-Atlantic Region. That is what it is,” said Cleary. “They just don’t break the tie in that situation.”
West Virginia got critical performances from Ahna Lewis at No. 4, Kaylyn Christopher at No. 5 and Kate Harrison at No. 6 to tie the Tigers.
Lewis placed 15th overall with a time of 22:09, Christopher was 17th with a time of 22:14 and Harrison was 23rd with a time of 22:26.
“To execute the way we needed to in the four, five, six and seven spots was just excellent,” Cleary said. “What saved us today were Kaylyn Christopher and Ahna Lewis.”
West Virginia also got a courageous performance from Marie-Louise Asselin, who battled a viral infection today. The meet favorite was able to nudge out Princeton’s Alex Banfich for ninth place with a time of 21:46.
“She did a tremendous job fighting for ninth place,” Cleary said. “Obviously she wanted much more for herself. Villanova suffered an injury out there today and we suffered a little bit of a hit with Marie-Louise, and that’s why we run the races.”
Keri Bland was West Virginia’s top finisher in fourth place with a time of 21:24 and Clara Grandt placed sixth with a 21:35 clocking.
Villanova’s Frances Koons won the race with a time of 21:11. Villanova was running without Amanda Marino, who finished ninth at the Big East championships two weeks ago.
“That definitely affected their performance today,” Cleary said.
A steady rain on Friday made for muddy racing conditions on Saturday.
“It was the first time we had cross country-like weather and the girls got through it,” Cleary said. “I would say they ran a much more disciplined race than they did at Big East and I think it paid off in the last four or five minutes of the race.”
West Virginia had six runners on the all-regional team for the first time in school history. The previous best was four runners in 2004, West Virginia’s only other regional title. Cleary said this year’s Mid-Atlantic Regional field was the strongest ever with five teams nationally ranked heading into the race.
“All of the experts had us for a third-place finish today,” Cleary said. “I think Christopher and Lewis wanted to show that we were better than that and not just be known as a team with three great front runners.”
West Virginia and Princeton automatically qualify for nationals to take place at Terre Haute, Ind., on Monday, Nov. 24. Cleary believes Villanova and Georgetown will also earn at-large bids.
This year marks the first time in school history West Virginia has made back-to-back appearances at nationals. Last year WVU placed ninth. The Mountaineers’ other team trips to nationals came in 2004, 2000 and 1997.
