West Virginia University
Penn State National Open
Cross Country: WVU Takes First at Penn State
October 16, 2009 08:26 PM | Cross Country
By Kelly Tuckwiller for MSNsportsNET.com
October 15, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The No. 3 West Virginia University cross country team won the Penn State National Invitation this afternoon despite inclement weather.
The meet was originally schedule to been held in University Park, Pa., but was moved to Lock Haven, Pa., due to weather conditions.
The Mountaineers took first place with 27 points, followed by Penn Sate (56), Providence (75), Cornell (131) and Boston College (134).
"I am pleased with our results today," coach Sean Cleary says. "We have a lot of room for improvement with this group. Over the next five weeks we should really see this team come together.
"There were parts of this course that were under six inches of water with the temperatures in the low 30s. I am extremely please with this adversity."
WVU had seven runners in the top 20, as senior All-American Keri Bland led the team with a second-place finish, as she crossed the line at 20:22, respectively.
Senior Marie-Louise Asselin followed in fourth (20:36), while senior Clara Grandt finished fifth (20:38).
Also racing well and scoring for the Mountaineers was Sarah-Anne Brault who finished ninth (20:59), Kaylyn Christopher who finished 12th (21.02), and Kate Harrison and Jessica O'Connell, who finished in 14th (21:07) and 19th (21:20).
WVU is idle next weekend, as they prepare for the BIG EAST Championships, which are to be help on Oct. 31, in Kenosha, Wis.
