Nov. 15, 2008

STILLWATER, OK. – (Saturday, November 15, 2008) – With ideal running conditions in Stillwater, Ok. the Redhawks cross country teams ran a near ideal race with the men and women finishing 12th and 24th respectively. The men’s team improved three spots from last year’s finish when they finished 15th in Peoria, Ill. The men’s team gained a total of 364 points, while the women posted 660 points.

With 165 total runners in the men’s 8K, senior Brandon Karcher finished 46th with a time of 32:27.10. Following Karcher was fellow Redhawks teammate Nate Shipley with a 33:01.40 finish, good enough for 70th place. Junior Dustin Davis finished right behind Shipley in 72nd place with a time of 33:04.25. The sophomore trio of Jason Lumpkin (87th – 33:25.55), Chris Loseman (89th – 33:25.95), and Cody Martin (126th - 34:53.05) were right on the heels of their competitors for most of the race. Rounding out the men’s team, T.J. Matthews finished 128th with a time of 34:53.45.

Leading the women’s team was senior Juli Koenegstein who crossed the finish line at a time of 22:49.85. Koenegstein’s finish placed her 78th out of 187 runners. Monica Noble (23:31.85) and Liz Speicher (23:52.80) finished 128th and 146th respectively. Kasey Owens placed 153rd at a time of 24:15.55. Linnea Woldtvedt (155th – 24:20.80) and Lauren Heidbrink (173rd – 25:46.45) rounded out the women’s team.

“My goal for the men’s team was a top-12 finish,” commented Head Coach Miles Krieger. “We are ranked 11th in the Midwest poll, but with Illinois, a Big 10 school right behind us, I just wanted to finish in the top 12. Our women’s team gained a lot of experience today for the future growth of the program.”

Host Oklahoma State finished first in the team results with 42 points on their home course. Hassan Mead of Minnesota was the top men’s 8K finisher with a time of 31:15.65. On the women’s side Minnesota finished first with 57 points. For the women, Rachel Marchand of Iowa finished first in the 5K with a time of 20:32.05.

“Overall I was ecstatic about both our teams, their individual efforts and the end result,” said Coach Krieger.