Solid weekend for cross country
Western Illinois University Athletic Media Services
Issue date: 9/21/09 Section: Sports
The Western Illinois men's and women's cross country teams placed sixth and seventh Friday, Sept. 12 at the Illinois Intercollegiate Championships hosted by Illinois State.
The Fighting Leatherneck men finished sixth in the university division, recording a team score of 151 points. Among the top finishers were Eric Anerino who placed 22nd in a time of 25:54, Jeremy Whitaker in 31st (26:12), Tyler Buckles in 32nd (26:16), Derek Gibb in 40th (26:30) and Jared Schmidt in 47th (26:54).
"I thought we ran pretty solid overall, especially the top-four," said Western Illinois head cross country coach Matt Morris. "Today's performance won't reflect our goals for October 31st (Summit League Championships)."
On the women's side, the 'Necks placed seventh in the university division, with a team total of 157 points. The pack was led by senior Carianna Cottone finishing ninth in a time of 18:21 and Josi Parker who place 28th in a time 19:16. Also placing for the women were Alycia Thurston in 41st (19:59), Julie Dietsch in 52nd (20:42), Alexa Williams in 57th (21:01), Amy Byers in 60th (21:29) and Elizabeth Roy in 61st (21:32).
"Carianna was great today," Morris said. "For being so young, the girls ran really well from top to bottom. A few had personal record performances, and from an experience standpoint, this was a great race in the process of preparing for the Conference Championships."
The Leathernecks compete next Friday, Oct. 16 at the Bradley Invitational in Peoria, Ill.
The Fighting Leatherneck men finished sixth in the university division, recording a team score of 151 points. Among the top finishers were Eric Anerino who placed 22nd in a time of 25:54, Jeremy Whitaker in 31st (26:12), Tyler Buckles in 32nd (26:16), Derek Gibb in 40th (26:30) and Jared Schmidt in 47th (26:54).
"I thought we ran pretty solid overall, especially the top-four," said Western Illinois head cross country coach Matt Morris. "Today's performance won't reflect our goals for October 31st (Summit League Championships)."
On the women's side, the 'Necks placed seventh in the university division, with a team total of 157 points. The pack was led by senior Carianna Cottone finishing ninth in a time of 18:21 and Josi Parker who place 28th in a time 19:16. Also placing for the women were Alycia Thurston in 41st (19:59), Julie Dietsch in 52nd (20:42), Alexa Williams in 57th (21:01), Amy Byers in 60th (21:29) and Elizabeth Roy in 61st (21:32).
"Carianna was great today," Morris said. "For being so young, the girls ran really well from top to bottom. A few had personal record performances, and from an experience standpoint, this was a great race in the process of preparing for the Conference Championships."
The Leathernecks compete next Friday, Oct. 16 at the Bradley Invitational in Peoria, Ill.
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