LOUISVILLE, Ky – New Mexico rolled to victory in the women’s title race, but favourite Colorado were stunned by Syracuse in the men’s category at the NCAA DI Cross Country Championships on Saturday.
As expected the No. 1 Lobos, who had two runners finished in the top five, dominated the team race on the women’s side after scoring 49 points to beat No. 2 Colorado, which scored 129 points and third place Oregon, which was even further back with 214 points.
Senior Courtney Frerichs led the New Mexico pack with a fourth place finish in the women’s 6k with a time of 19:48.0.
Interestingly, Frerichs’ surged to a top five finish after pushing up all the way from 62nd place.
She led home fellow scorers Alice Wright, who was fifth in 19:53.1, Rhona Auckland (13th, 20:07.1), Calli Thackery (15th, 20:07.3) and Molly Renfer (24th, 20:17.5).
The individual champion in the women’s 6k was Notre Dame senior Molly Seidel, who posted a winning time of 19:28.6 after separating herself from talented Boise State freshman Allie Ostrander, who ran in second at 19:33.6.
Dominique Scott of Arkansas ran 19:40.9 for third place.
Oregon (214) and Providence (231) completed the top five, while Oklahoma State (274) ran very impressive to finish in the top 10, at seventh place.
On the men’s side, Syracuse went out aggressively and packed in smartly en route to dethroned the defending champion and No. 1 Colorado, which came into the championships as the favourite.
The No. 2 ranked Orange used a trio of top 10 finishers to tally 82 points to hold off Colorado, which finished on 91 points.
Justyn Knight led Syracuse with a fourth place finish in the men’s 10k, with a time of 29:46.1.
Colin Bennie was 8th in 29:55.9 7, Martin Hehir took ninth with 29:59.5, while Philo Germano (39th, 30:29.5) and Joel Hubbard (47th, 30:31.5) rounded out the scorers.
Stanford (151), Oregon (183) and Iona (231) rounded out the top five finishers in the men’s team title race.
Completing the top 10 were Arkansas (244), Louisville (331), Washington (345), Michigan (348) and Georgetown (352).
Edward Cheserek of Oregon retained his individual men’s 10k title with a time of 28:45.8. The junior long distance runner was winning his third successive cross country national championships individual crown.
Patrick Tiernan of Villanova ran bravely for a second-place finish with a time of 29:11.1, with Pierce Murphy of Colorado running 29:37.0 for third.
Top Ten Individual Men 10k Finishers
1 Edward Cheserek JR – Oregon 28:45.8
2 Patrick Tiernan JR – Villanova 29:11.1
3 Pierce Murphy SR – Colorado 29:37.0
4 Justyn Knight SO – Syracuse 29:46.1
5 Jonathan Green SO – Georgetown 29:49.5
6 Jim Rosa SR – Stanford 29:52.7
7 Sean McGorty JR – Stanford 29:53.4
8 Colin Bennie SO – Syracuse 29:55.9
9 Martin Hehir SR – Syracuse 29:59.5
10 Marc Scott SO – Tulsa 30:02.6
Top Ten Men Team Finishers
1 Syracuse 82
2 Colorado 91
3 Stanford 151
4 Oregon 183
5 Iona 231
6 Arkansas 244
7 Louisville 331
8 Washington 345
9 Michigan 348
10 Georgetown 352
Top Ten Individual Women 6k Finishers
1 Molly Seidel SR – Notre Dame 19:28.6
2 Allie Ostrander FR – Boise State 19:33.6
3 Dominique Scott SR – Arkansas 19:40.9
4 Courtney Frerichs SR – New Mexico 19:48.0
5 Alice Wright SO – New Mexico 19:53.1
6 Anna Rohrer FR – Notre Dame 19:59.7
7 Allie Buchalski JR – Furman 20:02.6
8 Maddie Meyers SR – Washington 20:03.1
9 Brenna Peloquin FR – Boise State 20:04.3
10 Sharon Lokedi FR – Kansas 20:04.9
Top Ten Women Team Finishers
1 New Mexico 49
2 Colorado 129
3 Oregon 214
4 Providence 231
5 NC State 264
6 Michigan 264
7 Oklahoma State 274
8 Notre Dame 276
9 Arkansas 276
10 Washington 297
