Buffaloes Sweep NCAA Region Titles For Third Straight Year

Saturday, November 11

Albuquerque, N.M.

TBA

Colorado

NCAA Mountain Regional

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

Buffaloes Sweep NCAA Region Titles For Third Straight Year

November 11, 2006 | Cross Country

By: Linda Sprouse, Assistant SID

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. ? Colorado swept the NCAA Mountain Region Championship for the third straight year and earned automatic bids to the NCAA Championship here on Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M. at the University North Golf Course. The second-ranked Colorado men scored 59 points and the ninth-rated women recorded 63 in the victories.

CU was unable to capture one of the individual titles for the first time since 1993. Either a CU male or female harrier has won an individual title from 1994-2005.

Jenny Barringer was the highest finisher on both sides for CU and recorded her second consecutive runner-up finish to Texas Tech's Sally Kipyego (19:45.9) in two races this season. Kipeygo won the Big 12 Championship two weeks ago. Barringer finished the 6k loop in 20:30.5, over 11 seconds ahead of the third-place finisher, Kassi Anderson, of BYU.

Liza Pasciuto took eighth overall and was the second Buff to cross the finish. She earned a mark of 21:06.5. Aislinn Ryan took 11^th (21:14.6) and Claire Maduza finished 19^th (21:27.4). Erin Marston rounded out CU's score by taking 24^th in 21:40.2. This is Marston's highest finish in a postseason race.

Colorado's 63 points bested runner-up #17 Texas Tech's 87 points. No. 12 BYU was third with 94 points, instate rival and 24^th-ranked Colorado State placed fourth (96) and Weber State (98), ranked 30^th, placed fifth to round out the scoring of the ranked teams at the championship.

Billy Nelson, who won the regional crown last season, led the CU men for the second straight year. Nelson took eighth overall and finished the 10k loop in 30:25.3. Josh Rohatinsky, BYU, won the race in 29:51.6. Brent Vaughn also recorded a top-10 performance by taking ninth-place in 30:29.1.

James Strang recorded his best finish of the season for the Buffs by placing 13^th overall (30:55.1). Stephen Pifer took 14^th (30:58.5) and Erik Heinonen took 15^th by finishing in 21:02.3.

All 10 of CU's scorers earned all-region honors as the top-25 in the men's and women's race receive that honor.

CU defeated 14^th-ranked BYU by just eight points to earn its fourth straight region title. Fourth-ranked UTEP took third (86).

Colorado will head to the 2006 NCAA Cross Country Championship in Terre Haute, Ind. on Nov. 20 at the LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course. The women placed second last year and the men took fifth.

2006 NCAA MOUNTIAN REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS

University Golf Course (Albuquerque, N.M.)

MEN'S 10K TEAM SCORES

1. Colorado 59; 2. BYU 67; 3. UTEP 86; 4. Southern Utah 128; 5. Northern Arizona 160; 6. Wyoming 187; 7. Weber State 190; 8. Air Force 204; 9. Colorado State 204; 10. Utah State 228; 11. New Mexico 243; 12. Texas Tech 259; 13. Montana State 300; 14. Montana 373; 15. Idaho State 443.

MEN'S FINISHERS (Top 10):

1. Josh Rohatinsky, BYU, 29:51.6; 2. Joseph Lomong, NAU, 29:55.7; 3. Mark Korir, UW, 29:56.7; 4. Kevin Chelimo, TTU, 30:03.9; 5. Stephen Samoei, UTEP, 30:17.2; 6. Seth Pilkington, WSU, 30:28.6; 7. Jess Baumgartner, SUU , 30:23.8; 8. Billy Nelson, CU, 30:25.3; 9. Brent Vaughn, CU, 30:29.1; 10. Kyle Perry, BYU, 30:38.6. Other CU Finishers: 13. James Strang, 30:55.1; 14. Stephen Pifer, 30:58.5; 15. Erik Heinonen, 31:02.3; 22. Bradley Harkrader, 31:31.6; 38. Pete Janson, 32:04.4.

WOMEN'S 6K TEAM SCORES

1. Colorado 45; 2. Texas Tech 87; 3. BYU 94; 4. Colorado State 96; 5. Weber State 98; 6. Northern Arizona 137; 7. New Mexico 179; 8. Montana 238; 9. Utah State 247; 10. Wyoming 288; 11. Utah 301; 11. Idaho State 301; 13. Air Force 333; 14. Montana State 361; 15. New Mexico State 387; 16. Southern Utah 425; 17. UTEP 486.

WOMEN'S FINISHERS (Top 10):

1. Sally Kipyego, TTU, 20:00.82; 2. Jenny Barringer, CU, 20:45.52; 3. Kassi Andersen, BYU, 20:41.6; 4. Lindsey Anderson, WSU, 20:59.3; 5. Timmie Murphy, UNM, 21:00.0; 6. Nicole Gueldemeister, NAU, 21:04.7; 7. Amber Duffin, BYU, 21:05. 4; 8. Liza Pasciuto, CU, 21:06.5; 9. Allie Brosh, UM, 21:09.2; 10. Irene Kimaiyo, TTU, 21:14.0; Other CU Finishers: 11. Aislinn Ryan, 21:14.6; 19. Claire Maduza, 21:27.4; 24. Erin Marston, 21:40.2; 58. Hilary McClendon, 23:07.0; 81. Rachel Gioscia, 23:45.5.