Kansas Sweeps Bob Timmons Invitational
Sept. 1, 2007
LAWRENCE, Kan. – For the third consecutive year, the Kansas Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams swept the competition at the Bob Timmons Invitational.
Senior Colby Wissel continued his reign on Rim Rock Farm by finishing first with a time of 25:49.97. In Wissel’s last race at home he won the Big 12 Championship. This race is a close to Wissel’s career on a course he’s dominated over four years. The Kearney, Neb. native, placed third as a freshman, first as a sophomore and second as a junior at the Bob Timmons Invitational.
“It had a little extra meaning today,” Wissel said. We were joking around earlier that in my career (at Rim Rock) I now have four wins and three losses, so it feels good to break .500.”
Senior Paul Hefferon was just behind Wissel and took second (29:50.59). The race was similar to last year’s finish in which Hefferon edged out Wissel by less than a second. This was the final race for Hefferon on Rim Rock Farm, a course where he won a state high school championship in 2003, as well as winning the Bob Timmons Invitational in 2006.
“I was really trying to enjoy the moment because it’s one of those things that I’m going to remember 25 to 30 years from now,” Hefferon said. “I’ll look back on my time here. There’s been an incredible amount of memories; from winning last year, winning a race here in high school and Colby winning (the Big 12 Championships) last year. It was a really memorable day. I really enjoyed every part of it.”
Stanley Redwine, who opened up his eighth season as the head coach for the Jayhawks, was impressed with their performance.
“Those guys (Hefferon and Wissel) are great,” Redwine said. “They are returning All-Americans and you can’t say enough good things about them. They are competitors and they did a great job today.”
Sophomore Bret Imgrund placed 10th (26:50.97) and freshman Nick Caprario placed 17th (27:20.48) in the 8K race.
“I thought he (Caprario) would be a pretty good runner for us,” Wissel said. “He came out today and competed very well. It was very encouraging. To have an incoming freshman step in like that is great.”
The Kansas men finished with 52 points finishing ahead of second place Hillsdale (95).
The Kansas women’s first place team finish was led by Lauren Bonds. The sophomore finished third with a time of 22:52.40 which included a strong finish at the end of the hilly 6K course.
“I got a second wind for the last 200 meters,” Bonds said. “It was nice just to get out there and once I got tired I just held on for as long as I could.”
Senior Alicia McGregor was the team’s second runner to finish placing eighth (23:23.89). Rounding out the top five was Lisa Morrisey, Amanda Miller and Haley Harbert finishing 13th, 14th and 15th respectively. The Jayhawks had seven runners in the top 25 and as a team finished with 53 points finishing well ahead of second place Pittsburg State (95).
“On the women’s side it was a total team effort and it showed,” Redwine said. “They did a great job.”
Oral Roberts’ Faithy Kamangila won the women’s race with a time of 22:16.72.
