Cross Country: Solid Finish at Notre Dame
October 01, 2010 05:55 PM | Cross Country
Notre Dame Invitational Results 2010 XC Season StatsMORGANTOWN, W. Va. – After deciding earlier this week to redshirt three of the projected top runners of 2010, the No. 18 West Virginia University cross country team earned a solid second-place finish in the Women's Gold Race of the Notre Dame Invitational.
In perfect weather conditions on a flat course, the Mountaineers finished the 5K race with 104 points behind only Oakland (Calif.) University, which finished at the top with 91 points. Indiana State followed WVU with 168 points, while Western Michigan arrived in fourth place with 169 points.
With the goal of having the runners place in closer proximity to one another, WVU coach Sean Cleary says the task was completed.
"I am excited that we accomplished our main goal for the weekend," Cleary says. "Our gaps were much tighter in this race. We clearly need to keep this trend going to reach our year-end goals. I thought we came out here and competed very well."
For the second consecutive time, WVU was led by sophomore transfer Kaitlyn Gillespie, who again finished in first place overall with a time of 17 minutes, 24 seconds. She was followed closely by junior Sarah-Anne Brault, who made her 2010 debut with a second-place overall finish in 17:30.
Redshirt sophomore Hallie Portner had another solid finish, coming in 26th place in 18:37, while senior Maria Dalzot finished fourth for the team in 37th place in 18:47. Redshirt freshmen Sarah Martinelli and Allison Pettit came in 38th and 41st, respectively, while redshirt sophomore Jordan Hamric crossed the line in 18:56.
Junior Ahna Lewis was expected to make her 2010 debut as well, but was forced to sit out with an ailing heel. The decision was made to increase her chances of competing well at the Penn State Invitational in two weeks.
"Katie (Gillespie) and Sarah-Anne (Brault) looked very good out front," Cleary says. "I look for them to continue to get better and better as the season progresses."
The Mountaineers will next compete at the Penn State Invitational on Fri., Oct. 15, in State College, Pa.
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