CROSS COUNTRY TAKES THREE BIG 12 TITLES

Saturday, October 30

Topeka, Kan.

TBA

Colorado

at Big 12 Championships

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

October 30, 2004 | Cross Country

By: CUBuffs.com

TOPEKA, Kan. ? Buffs Renee Metivier, Sara Slattery and Christine Bolf went 1-2-3, respectively, in the women's 6k race to pace six runners in the top-11 while Brent Vaughn finished second for the third time this year, Bret Schoolmeester finished fourth and Jon Severy ninth as all five men's scorers placed in top-20 finishes as the third-ranked University of Colorado women's and men's cross country teams successfully defended their team titles at the ninth annual Big 12 Championships here on the Stateland Cross Country Course Saturday morning.

The Colorado men have now won all nine Big 12 team titles, and the CU women eight of nine, including the last six. For the first time since 1996, the men's individual title was won by someone other than a CU runner and Metivier's run to the women's title was the Buffs' sixth straight.

“A great run by Renee and amazing return by Sara. Really pleased with Christine and a good, patient, smart run by the freshmen,” said head coach Mark Wetmore on the women's race. “We didn't run great on the men's side. Maybe we overlooked the race a little. Some told me that their legs were weary, so maybe I pushed them a little too hard earlier this week. Traditionally our opponents run their best races of the year here, so we've come to expect that,” he said of the men's.

The women's finish marked the second time in three seasons that the women swept the top three finishes. Molly Austin, then-Sara Gorton and Natalie Florence raced to the same effort in 2002 in Columbia, Mo. The Buffs' 25 points is the second lowest in Big 12 race history, following a 23-point team effort in 1997.

Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, and race runner-up, a year ago, Metivier took the race over as early as the first mile marker, when she had the race lead over Oklahoma State runners Barbora Kuncova and Mary Davis, with Slattery and Bolf in third and fourth respectively, and never looked back to win in 20:28.05, 40 seconds ahead of Slattery's second place finish ties her career high, as a redshirt sophomore in 2002 and Bolf's third place finish is a 17-place climb from her 20th-place finish a year ago in Austin, Texas. Just

“It was a team effort. We worked together really well today. Our team synergy was here which motivated all of us to do our best,” said Metivier on the team effort and on her finish, “I tried to make it hard and get a good workout going into the last two races of the season. It's just an honor to be part of the legacy (of Colorado wins). An honor to be here.”

“I'm pretty happy,” said Slattery. “I've only had two months of training and tied my best career finish (2nd, 2002) when I was in the best shape of my life. It's not where I want to be at the end of the season, but I'm happy today.

“It was a nice race and my finish was about where I expected,” said Bolf. “I'm just getting over a small cold, so I didn't feel my best as if I didn't have it (a cold), but it was a good, strong finish and I'm excited to go 1-2-3.”

Defending champion Natalie Florence, who battled a stress reaction over the summer months, finished ninth here today, ahead of freshmen Liza Pasciuto and Amber Smith, who were the race's top finishing true freshmen, coming in at 10th and 11th.

Rounding out the women's team effort, Laura Zeigle finished 28th, Jackie Zeigle moved up 17 places from ?03's finish for a 35th place showing, and in her first conference championship, Kristen Hoogheem finished 42nd.

Vaughn had the early lead in the men's 8k race, but it would soon become a two-man contest between him and Kansas' Benson Chesang. The two went 2-3 two weeks ago in Terre Haute, Ind. at the Pre-National Invitational, but would trade places today with Chesang winning in 24:07.43, just a second ahead of Vaughn (24:08.82).

“He (Benson Chesang) took off at 4k. He ran a great race and beat me today. There was a pack of seven at the 4k mark and then he took off. I tried to respond, but he had too much on me. Then with 400-m to go, he had a six second lead when I tried to catch him,” said Vaughn. “I need to be willing to make a move earlier in the race and be willing to risk more with 4k to go and let go instead of sitting back.”

“Brent defeated him two weeks ago, and lost to him today. They're two of the best racers in the country, and they're both back for two more years. We'll see some big time duals between them,” said Wetmore.

Schoolmeester's fourth place finish is a career best for the junior 29 seconds off the winning pace.

“We haven't lost an individual race since '96, so I'm a little disappointed that it happened on mine and Vaughn's watch,” said Schoolmeester. “My dad always says that it's not a mistake if you can fix it, so we have three weeks to fix it. We need to solidify the middle part of the race for a solid 10k at NCAAs.

Senior Jon Severy's ninth-place finish is a career best for the post-season veteran who ran his fourth and final Big 12 Championship loop today. Newcomers James Strang scored as CU's fourth runner, finishing 16th, one spot ahead of teammate Stephen Pifer, who scored as CU's fifth runner who finished 17th. Payton Batliner finished 22nd, Jared Scott a career best 24th and freshman Ryan Deak, 33rd.

Next up for the Buffs is the 2004 NCAA Mountain Region Championships, Nov. 13 in Fort Collins, Colo. The top-two teams in each race, and the top two individuals, not on one of those two teams, earn automatic bids to the NCAA Championships, Nov. 22 in Terre Haute, Ind.

“Obviously we'll have to keep everyone healthy, well and patient to do well on November 22nd,” said Wetmore on the CU women, “my problem is what personnel to use (in the men's race), so my task over the next two weeks is to find my best seven men. We already know who the top seven are in the women.”

“You can throw national rankings out the window. It's what happens on Nov. 22 that counts. And today we displayed what we're capable of doing,” concluded Metivier.

2004 BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Stateland Cross Country Course (Topeka, Kan.)

WOMEN'S 6K TEAM SCORES: 1. COLORADO, 25-points; 2. Missouri, 59; 3. Oklahoma State, 75; 4. Baylor, 127; 5. Texas A&M, 164; 6. Texas Tech, 174; 7. Oklahoma, 185; 8. .Kansas State, 205; 9. Nebraska, 235; 10. Kansas, 251; 11. Iowa State, 291; 12. Texas, 299.

WOMEN'S FINISHERS: 1. Renee Metivier, CU, 20:28.5; 2. Sara Slattery, CU, 21:08.97; 3. Christine Bolf, CU, 21:13.83; 4. Barbora Kuncova, OSU, 21:24.35; 5. Mary Davis, OSU, 21:32.79; 6. Amanda Bales, MU, 21:33.12; 7. Serena Ramsey, MU, 21:36.57; 8. Jill Peterson, MU, 21:41.73; 9. Natalie Florence, CU, 21:46.93; 10. Liza Pasciuto, CU, 21:49. Other CU Finishers: 11. Amber Smith, 21:52.99; 28. Laura Zeigle, 22:35.75; 35. Jackie Zeigle, 22:50.16; 42. Kristen Hoogheem, 23:05.01.

MEN'S 8k TEAM SCORES: 1. COLORADO, 48-points; 2. Texas, 63; 3. Oklahoma State, 108; 4. Kansas, 116; 5. Missoiuri, 157; 6. Iowa State, 173; 7. Baylor, 212; 8. Kansas State, 230; 9. Oklahoma, 231; 10. Texas Tech, 262; 11. Texas A&M, 279; 12. Nebraska, 312.

MEN'S FINISHERS: 1. Benson Chesang, KU, 24:07.43; 2. Brent Vaughn, CU, 24:08.82; 3. Mathew Chesang, KSU, 24:12.90; 4. Bret Schoolmeester, CU, 24:36.16; 5. Mark Nichol, Texas, 24:49.77; 6. Tim Ross, MU, 24:52.98; 7. Grant Shadden, ISU, 24:53.68; 8. Bo Price, BU, 24:54.72; 9. Jon Severy, CU, 24:55.94; 10. Scott Rantall, OSU, 24:58.11. Other CU Finishers: 16. James Strang, 25:06.70; 17. Stephen Pifer, 25:07.72; 22. Payton Batliner, 25:13.02; 24. Jared Scott, 25:21.50; 33. Ryan Deak, 25:41.53