Friday, October 26
Ames, Iowa
11:00 a.m.
West Virginia University
at
Big 12 Championship
Jackson Paces WVU at Big 12s
October 26, 2018 01:44 PM | Cross Country
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Sophomore Hayley Jackson of the West Virginia University cross country team finished eighth overall at the 2018 Big 12 Championship in Ames, Iowa, on Friday, leading the Mountaineers to a fourth-place team finish.
Jackson crossed the ISU Cross Country Course (6k) finish line in 20:42.0, earning All-Big 12 honors for a top-15 finish. The Lusby, Maryland, native became the ninth Mountaineer to claim all-conference honors since WVU joined the Big 12 in 2012.
"When our team runs a very good race and falls slightly short of the team goal, it's bittersweet," WVU coach Sean Cleary said. "Overall, we came out and ran times that are equal to – or better than – our fastest times ever for the majority of the team. Almost every team member placed higher than they ever have at the Big 12 Championship. On so many levels, we should leave here proud of our efforts."
Redshirt junior Olivia Hill was the Mountaineers' second finisher on the day. She finished in 18th place in 21:02.5, just ahead of freshman Charlotte Wood, who took 19th in 21:04.4. Sophomore Bree Warren finished 24th in 21:09.9, while redshirt junior Candace Jones earned a 27th-place finish in 21:19.9.
Additionally, redshirt sophomore Sarah Wills (21:30.8) and freshman Hannah Lipps (21:39.8) took 31st and 36th place, respectively. Redshirt sophomore Antigone Archer (21:49.3), redshirt freshman Marianne Abdalah (22:02.0) and redshirt senior Jillian Forsey (22:05.1) also raced for the Mountaineers.
West Virginia earned 96 team points en route to registering its second consecutive fourth-place team finish at the Big 12 Championship. No. 17 Iowa State won the race with 35 points, while Oklahoma State (52) and Kansas (90) finished second and third, respectively. Texas (113) rounded out the top five.
"We knew we had a legitimate shot at third place in this meet, but we will carry the fourth-place finish in our hearts," Cleary said. "We have two weeks to recover and try to increase our fitness one more little step before regionals. We believe we can take this very strong race result and better it at the NCAA Regionals."
Friday's meet marked the first time Iowa State has hosted the Big 12 meet since 2008, and it was the first time the Mountaineers had ever competed at the venue.
Next up, WVU turns its focus to the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional, which is set for Friday, Nov. 9, in University Park, Pennsylvania. The race will be the Mountaineers' third trip to Penn State's Blue-White Golf Course this season. The team earned a fifth-place finish at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational on Sept. 7, before the group placed sixth at the Penn State National Open on Oct. 12.
WVU finished seventh at the Mid-Atlantic Regional meet last year in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUXCTF on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Jackson crossed the ISU Cross Country Course (6k) finish line in 20:42.0, earning All-Big 12 honors for a top-15 finish. The Lusby, Maryland, native became the ninth Mountaineer to claim all-conference honors since WVU joined the Big 12 in 2012.
"When our team runs a very good race and falls slightly short of the team goal, it's bittersweet," WVU coach Sean Cleary said. "Overall, we came out and ran times that are equal to – or better than – our fastest times ever for the majority of the team. Almost every team member placed higher than they ever have at the Big 12 Championship. On so many levels, we should leave here proud of our efforts."
Redshirt junior Olivia Hill was the Mountaineers' second finisher on the day. She finished in 18th place in 21:02.5, just ahead of freshman Charlotte Wood, who took 19th in 21:04.4. Sophomore Bree Warren finished 24th in 21:09.9, while redshirt junior Candace Jones earned a 27th-place finish in 21:19.9.
Additionally, redshirt sophomore Sarah Wills (21:30.8) and freshman Hannah Lipps (21:39.8) took 31st and 36th place, respectively. Redshirt sophomore Antigone Archer (21:49.3), redshirt freshman Marianne Abdalah (22:02.0) and redshirt senior Jillian Forsey (22:05.1) also raced for the Mountaineers.
West Virginia earned 96 team points en route to registering its second consecutive fourth-place team finish at the Big 12 Championship. No. 17 Iowa State won the race with 35 points, while Oklahoma State (52) and Kansas (90) finished second and third, respectively. Texas (113) rounded out the top five.
"We knew we had a legitimate shot at third place in this meet, but we will carry the fourth-place finish in our hearts," Cleary said. "We have two weeks to recover and try to increase our fitness one more little step before regionals. We believe we can take this very strong race result and better it at the NCAA Regionals."
Friday's meet marked the first time Iowa State has hosted the Big 12 meet since 2008, and it was the first time the Mountaineers had ever competed at the venue.
Next up, WVU turns its focus to the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional, which is set for Friday, Nov. 9, in University Park, Pennsylvania. The race will be the Mountaineers' third trip to Penn State's Blue-White Golf Course this season. The team earned a fifth-place finish at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational on Sept. 7, before the group placed sixth at the Penn State National Open on Oct. 12.
WVU finished seventh at the Mid-Atlantic Regional meet last year in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUXCTF on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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