Personal Records Fall at NCAA Pre-Nationals
Oct. 13, 2007
Men’s White Race Individual Results
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. –
Competing in a highly competitive field of 40 teams, the University of Kansas men’s cross country team finished towards the middle of the pack with a 25th place finish Saturday at the NCAA Pre-Nationals Invitational in Terre Haute, Ind. Senior Colby Wissel ran a personal record time of 23:48 while placing 25th.
Wissel’s time beats his previous record time of 23:50 which he ran at last year’s NCAA Pre-Nationals. His time on Saturday converts to a 4:47 per mile pace. Senior Paul Hefferon was only 19 seconds behind Wissel, but 30 places behind his fellow Jayhawk. Hefferon finished in a time of 24:07 and finishing 55th out of 273 runners.
Once again the gap between the Jayhawks No. 2 runner and No. 3 was sizable. Sophomore Bret Imgrund was the third Jayhawk to finish placing 160th in a personal record time of 25:03. Freshman Nick Caprario and senior Jason Schweitzer placed 199 and 210, respectively. Caprario’s personal record time of 25:30 easily bested the 26:35 mark he set earlier this season. Schweitzer finished in a time of 25:37.
Every Jayhawk ran under the 26-minute mark for the 8K race including Patrick McGowan (25:38) and Dan Van Orsdel (25:41). It was a perfect day for running good times with a combination of the beautiful fall weather, nationals like competition and a course of rolling hills. It was so good that 41 runners in the White Race ran under 24 minutes.
Josh McDougal of Liberty broke his own course record with a time of 22:56 to win the White Race. UTEP placed first as a team.
The Kansas women competed in the open race and continued with the fast times. Sophomore Lauren Bonds led the Jayhawks in the 6K race with a personal record time of 21:47 and placed ninth. Seniors Alicia McGegor (22:02) and Hayley Harbert (22:11) also finished in record time. No team scores were kept for the open race.
Clerc Koenck of Lamar won the women’s open race out of 123 runners with a time of 20:56.
Kansas will take some time off to prepare for the Big 12 Championships in Lubbock, Texas on Oct. 26. The men will race at 10 a.m. with the women to follow at 11 a.m.
