Cross Country Does Well At Regionals

Aug. 23, 2004

STILLWATER, Okla. – The Kansas men’s and women’s cross country teams finished fourth and fifth respectively in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships Saturday at the OSU Cross Country Course in Stillwater, Okla. The men’s and women’s finishes are the highest regional finished since the teams respective third and first place finishes in 1994. KU Freshman Benson Chesang finished second overall in the 10k race with a time of 30:41 and has automatically qualified to run at the 2003 Division I NCAA Championships. The final team and individual qualifiers for the 2003 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships will be announced by the NCAA Track and Field selection committee on Monday, Nov. 17.

The men scored 136 points in the fourth-place finish. Oklahoma State won the men’s race with 78 points, followed by Minnesota (89 points) and Iowa (129 points). The women scored 171 points in the race, which was won by Nebraska (60 points).

“We haven’t placed this high since I have been here so I am very excited,” head coach Stanley Redwine said. “Both teams ran well and we will just have to wait and see if we are selected for an at-large championship berth. I felt that both of the teams gave a strong effort and hopefully it will be something we continue in the future. It was very good to see our administration, family and friends supporting us at the meet.”

The Jayhawk men received a strong performance from junior Chris Jones (Iowa City, Iowa) and sophomore Cameron Schwehr (Colbert, Wash.). Jones finished 11th in a time of 31:28 and Schwehr completed the event in 19th place, in a time of 31:43. Sophomore Erik Sloan (Glenview, Ill.) also ran well for the ‘Hawks, finishing 51st with a time of 32:38.

The women were led by senior Laura Lavoie (Springfield, Mo.) who finished 10th in a time of 21:39. The women also received a top-20 performance from junior Megan Manthe (Anoka, Minn) who finished 17th in a time of 22:02. Senior Lauren Brownrigg (Tualatin, Ore.) finished 39th with a time of 22:42.

The University of Northern Iowa will host the 2003 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships, Nov. 24, at the Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Chesang is familiar with the 8k course, having run there at the Pre-Nationals Invitational on Oct. 18, finishing 19th in a time of 24:03.

Team Results – Men (of 22 teams)Place School Points

1 Oklahoma State 78

2 Minnesota 89

3 Iowa 129

4 Kansas 136

5 Loyola (Ill.) 139

Individual Results – Men (10k)Place Athlete Time

2 Benson Chesang 30:41

11 Chris Jones 31:28

19 Cameron Schwehr 31:43

51 Erik Sloan 32:38

53 Dan Ferguson 32:43

99 Joshy Madathil 33:48

100 Steve Vockrodt 33:51

Team Results – Women (of 24 teams)Place School Points

1 Nebraska 60

2 Missouri 63

3 Illinois 105

4 SW Missouri St. 157

5 Kansas 171

Individual Results – Women (6k)Place Athlete Time

10 Laura Lavole 21:39

17 Megan Manthe 22:02

39 Lauren Brownrigg 22:42

47 Laura Major 22:50

58 Angela Pichardo 23:04

63 Jessie Violand 23:09

71 Jenna Bimbi 23:14

(11/15/03)