Bonds Wins Again as KU Cross Country Teams Finish Second in Missouri

Sept. 13, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Lauren Bonds found herself in the winner’s circle once again, and both the KU men’s and women’s cross country teams finished in second place behind host Missouri Saturday at the Missouri Cross Country Challenge at A.L. Gustin Golf Course in Columbia, Mo.

For the second consecutive race, Bonds was the only runner to break the 19-minute mark in the 5K, posting a time of 18:59.29 to take home the women’s individual title. The junior from Hutchinson, Kan., ran 18:53.1 two weeks ago en route to winning the Bob Timmons Classic.

Sophomore Amanda Miller was the next Jayhawk to finish, placing fifth overall with a time of 19:20.75. Freshman Kara Windisch finished sixth at 19:31.91, junior Alison Knoll placed 10th with a time of 19:57.27, and freshman Rebeka Stowe posted a time of 20:10.08 to finish in 13th place and round out the scoring for the KU women. Kansas’ score of 35 was 11 points behind the Missouri women’s winning score of 24.

For the second straight race, a freshman paced the KU men. Zach Zarda, a Shawnee, Kan., product, finished in sixth place overall with a time of 27:12.87. Junior transfer Isaiah Shirlen finished right behind Zarda in seventh place (27:18.80), senior Brock Ternes placed eighth with a time of 27.24.66, sophomore Nick Caprario finished 10th at 27:33.24, and sophomore Dan Van Orsdel completed the Jayhawk scoring by placing 12th (27:38.10). With a team score of 33, the KU men also finished 11 points behind Missouri.

The KU women finished 38 points ahead of third-place Murray State, while the Jayhawk men defeated third-place Murray State by 51 points.

Next up for the KU cross country teams is the OSU Cowboy Jamboree, Oct. 4 in Stillwater, Okla.