TERRE HAUTE, Ind. ? In a meet where it's sometimes hard to stand out in the crowd, the University of Colorado men's and women's cross country teams were amongst those in the spotlight as both teams won their respective races, Renee Metivier won the women's “white” race, Brent Vaughn was in the individual runner-up in the men's “blue”, and both teams placed seven of 10 scoring runners in the top-15 at the NCAA Pre-National Invitational here Saturday.
Annually the largest race in the country with six races, 168 men's and women's teams and 1,384 individual finishers covered the 6 and 8k Wabash Valley Sports Center courses, the site of this year's NCAA Championships Nov. 22.
“We ran a lot better than my most optimistic aspirations,” said head coach Mark Wetmore. Before each meet I document my goals and I would say that if we brought 21 runners, that 20 exceeded my goals. I'm very happy, but I don't like to do so well so early...it makes me superstitious. In reality we're less race ready than anyone here, so we still have a lot of work to get done.”
The CU men's 2-4-11-12-34 effort for 63 points was well ahead of runner-up Cal Poly-SLO (165), Georgetown (172), Arizona State (179) and Air Force (216). The Colorado women ran a tighter race, as their 94 points was just 15 points ahead of Michigan (109), Arizona State (187), North Carolina State (207) and Michigan State (218). In the day's other two races, Stanford took all four titles as the Cardinal women finished with a team-best 49 points with Alicia Craig winning in 20:20.1 while their counterparts on the men's side had 77 points, led by Ryan Hall's win in 23:54.4. Colorado's perennial nemesis was the only program to better the Buffs' three titles here.
Metivier (20:03.6) ran the fastest women's time of the day and finished 13.3 seconds ahead of runner-up finisher Ida Nilsson of Northern Arizona, Vaughn ran side-by-side with New Mexico's Matt Gonzales for most of the 8k race. Gonzales held the race's initial lead then Vaughn caught him. They repeated the chase before Gonzales pulled away with 30-meters to go to win in 23:47.2, less than a second, putting together the fastest two men's race times of the afternoon.
With a pair of runner-up finishes so far this season, Vaughn has emerged as the Buffs' No. 1 runner, the first true sophomore since Jorge Torres (2000) to hold that distinction and first Colorado native (he hails from Aurora) since Colorado Springs' Adam Goucher (1994-98). His finish, in 23 minutes, 48.1 seconds, was less than a second off the winning pace was 13 ticks shy of former Buff, and current volunteer assistant coach, Jorge Torres' course record 23:35 in 2002 and is even more impressive when compared to his 34th place effort as a freshman in Waterloo, Iowa a year ago.
Bret Schoolmeester covered the men's 8k loop in 23:57.5 and his fourth-place effort is the third highest finish of his career, best in this race as he finished 31st last season. In the best season of his four-year career, an 11th place finish, in 24:20.7, is the best finish of Jon Severy's since a similar finish at the 2001 Big 12 Championships, but is his highest scoring effort as a Buff.
Freshman James Strang proved that his 10th place Rocky Mountain Shootout finish was no fluke as his 12th place finish this afternoon in 24:21.3 was the best the best by a first year runner in his race and best by a CU freshman since Dathan Ritzenhein finished third in 2001 in Greenville, S.C.. Classmate Bradley Harkrader came in as CU's final scorer, finishing 34th in 24:40.3, followed by Jared Scott (24:44.3) whose 42nd place finish was a career best in this annual contest for the senior and Ryan Deak (25:01.0) who finished 74th.
With Metivier winning, and Christine Bolf running to a career-best finish, eighth, in this race in 20:35.7, her fifth career top-10 effort, it is the third straight year that the CU women have had two runners in the top-10 at pre-nats. In 2002, Molly Austin finished third and Sara (Slattery) Gorton fourth in Terre Haute, followed by Natalie Florence (seventh) and Metivier (ninth) a year ago in Waterloo, Iowa.
The two were followed by Natalie Florence whose 11th place finish in 20:52.9 is her second best place in this race. Colorado's scoring efforts were rounded out by Amber Smith (21:20.7), whose 35th place finish is the highest finish by a freshman since Bolf finished 43rd on this course in '02 and Liza Pasciuto (21:24.3) in 39th. Jackie Zeigle (21:59.1) finished 84th and Laura Zeigle (23:09.9), 92nd.
When asked if he was surprised by anyone's performances today, without even thinking about it Wetmore said, “I'm surprised at how easily Renee ran to win...how Jackie and Laura Zeigle are rapidly improving this season...how Amber and Liza handled a race of 350 runners...how Brent Vaughn ran side by side with the guy (Matt Gonzales) expected to win the national title by Track and Field News until the final 30-meters...with James Strang, who is just a baby, and ran wonderfully.”
To the contrary, Wetmore was not surprised by where Schoolmeester was, as he ran with a cold at the Rocky Mountain Shootout two weeks ago...how the men ran better than he had hoped and how Austin Baille was CU's top runner in the men's open race until the last 20 meters when Payton Batliner passed him. “He's been waiting a long time, three seasons, to run a race like this. He ran a great race,” added Wetmore.
In today's open races, Iona's Emmily Chelanga won the women's race in 21:35.2, while Buffs Kristen Hoogheem (22:58.2) and Kendall Grgas-Wheeler (23:20.5) finished 37th and 64th, respectively, with Grgas-Wheeler's finish being a career best in this race. Josh Mcadams of BYU won the men's open contest in 24:49.9, with the CU men placing three runners among the top-10. Junior Payton Batliner (24:59.0) finished a career-high fourth, Austin Baillie (25:01.0) a career best fifth, Pete Janson (15:14.1), ninth and Erik Heinonen (25:17.5), 13th.
Also making the trip to Terre Haute to preview the course for the NCAA Championships were Sara Slattery and Stephen Pifer, who hope to return to the Colorado lineup in two weeks at the Big 12 Championships, October 30 in Topeka, Kan.
“We still hope to add Stephen and Sara, but we're looking pretty good. We'll have to wait and see.”
NCAA PRE-NATIONAL INVITIONAL (Terre Haute, Ind.)
MEN'S “BLUE” TEAM SCORES (Top-10 of 37 Teams)
1. COLORADO, 63-points; 2. Cal Poly-SLO, 165; 3. Georgetown, 172; 4. Arizona State, 179; 5. Air Force, 216; 6. Indiana, 235; 7. Butler, 257; 8. Iona, 92; 9. Florida, 329; 10. New Mexico, 344.
MEN'S FINISHERS (of 256 Finishers)
1. Matt Gonzales, New Mexico, 23:47.2; 2. Brent Vaughn, CU, 23:48.1; 3. Benson Chesang, Kansas, 23:54.6; 4. Bret Schoolmeester, CU, 23:57.5; 5. Sean Jefferson, Indiana, 24:10.4; 6. Rod Koborsi, Georgetown, 24:11.2; 7. Aaron Aguayo, 24:14.1; 8. Stephen Zieminski, Florida, 24:17.7; 9. Tristen Perlberg, Central Michigan, 24:19.2; 10. David Mitchell, Miami (Ohio), 24:20.2. Other CU Finishers: 11. Jon Severy, 24:20.7; 12. James Strang, 24:21.3; 34. Bradley Harkrader, 24:40.3; 42. Jared Scott, 24:44.3; 74. Ryan Deak, 25:01.0.
MEN'S OPEN RACE
1. Josh Mcadams, BYU, 24:49.9; 2. David Vidal, Stanford, 24:51.1; 3. Lauren Jespersen, Stanford, 24:56.6; 4. Payton Batliner, CU, 24:59.0; 5. Austin Baillie, CU, 25:01.0; 6. Michael Kerrigan, Villanova, 25:06.5; 7. Dan Curran, Notre Dame, 25:10.9; 8. Jason Linton, Ohio, 25:12.2; 9. Pete Janson, CU, 25:14.1; 10. Eli Baker, So. Illinois, 25:15.0. Other CU Finishers: 13. Erik Heinonen, 25:17.5.
WOMEN'S “WHITE” TEAM SCORES (Top-10 of 36 Teams)
1. COLORADO, 94-points; 2. Michigan, 109; 3. Arizona State, 187; 4. North Carolina State, 207; 5. Michigan State, 218; 6. Tennessee, 221; 7. Villanova, 236; 8. UC-Santa Barbara, 270; 9. Wake Forest, 280; 10. Colorado State, 340.
WOMEN'S FINSHERS (of 246 Finishers)
1. Renee Metivier, CU, 20:03.6; 2. Ida Nilsson, Northern Arizona, 20:16.9; 3. Amy Hastings, Arizona State, 20:18.5; 4. Rebecca Walter, Michigan, 20:20.1; 5. Marina Muncan, Villanova, 20:21.7; 6. Danette Doetzel, Michigan State, 20:25.6; 7. Cassie Hunt, Illinois, 20:28.7; 8. Christine Bolf, CU, 20:35.7; 9. Julia Lucas, North Carolina State, 20:44.4; 10. Lindsey Scherf, Harvard, 20:50.1. Other CU Finishers: 11. Natalie Florence, 20:52.9; 35. Amber Smith, 21:20.7; 39. Liza Pasciuto, 21:24.3; 84. Jackie Zeigle, 21:59.1; 92. Laura Zeigle, 22:03.9.
WOMEN'S OPEN RACE
1. Emmily Chelanga, Iona, 21:35.2; 2. Kristina Roth, NC State, 21:36.6; 3. Julie Allen, Stanford, 21:38.8; 4. Arianne Field, Michigan, 21:56.3; 5. Ashley Anklam, Drake, 21:57.8; 6. Jen Boyd, NC State, 22:03.7; 7. Anna Christian, UW-Milwaukee, 22:05.0; 8. Laura Halverson, Washington, 22:08.3; 9. Carime Reinhart, Ohio, 22:08.7; 10. Nicole Boykin, UNC, 22:11.3. CU Finishers: 37. Kristen Hoogheem, 22:58.2; 64. Kendall Grgas-Wheeler, 23:20.5.
