Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
NCAA's
Dennis Places 73rd, Costello Comes in 127th at Cross Country NCAA's
11/19/2001 7:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Nov. 19, 2001
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Junior cross country runners Theresa Dennis and Greg Costello fared well at the NCAA Cross Country Championships at Furman University this afternoon.
Dennis placed 73rd in a championship field of 249 runners. She cruised the 6,000 meter course in 21:53. Her 73rd-place showing marked the lowest finish ever at NCAA's in Bucknell women's cross country history. Julie Sweitzer placed 84th at nationals in 1997, which marked the first year Bucknell had an individual for the women's team qualify for the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
"Theresa ran her best race of the season and finished in the top third of the meet," said head coach Kevin Donner. "I look for this experience to set herself up for an outstanding track season. I am already excited to see how much more she can improve for next year."
Dennis' finish was 70 places better than her 1999 showing at nationals, when she placed 143rd at Indiana University. Dennis helped Bucknell earn an at-large bid into the NCAA's that season.
Brigham Young won the women's team title with a meet-low 62-point total. Individual champion Tara Chaplin of Arizona captured the individual title in 20:24.
Costello enjoyed a solid performance in his first-ever appearance at nationals, coming across the finish line 127th out of 244 competitors. He was timed at 31:14 for the 10,000 meter men's course. He was the first Bucknell men's cross country runner to qualify for nationals as an individual since 1994.
"Greg's inexperience showed in the early stages of the race," said Donner. "However, his determination and fitness level enabled him to make a great recovery and improve on his overall place over the last two miles. The experience he received from his first NCAA meet will pay great dividends."
Colorado claimed the men's team title, edging out Stanford by one point. Eastern Michigan's Boaz Chboiywo clocked a 28:47 to become the new individual national champion.
Top 10 Overall Finishers (Men): 1. Boaz Chboiywo, Eastern Michigan, 28:47, 2. Jorge Torres, Colorado, 29:06, 3. Alistair Cragg, Arkansas, 29:10, 4. D. Ritzenheim, Colorado, 29:11, 5. Luke Watson, Notre Dame, 29:19, 6. Ryan Shay, Notre Dame, 29:23, 7. Donald Sage, Stanford, 29:24, 8. Matt Tegenkamp, Wisconsin, 29:26, 9. Josh Spiker, Wisconsin, 29:29, 10. Travis Laird, Northern Arizona, 29:31. Women: 1. Tara Chaplin, Arizona, 20:24, 2. Renee Metivier, Georgia Tech, 20:31, 3. Lauren Fleshman, Stanford, 20:35, 4. Kristin Price, N.C. State, 20:36, 5. Michaela Manova, Brigham Young, 20:42, 6. Jennifer Owens, Virginia, 20:43, 7. Jessie Kindschi, Brigham Young, 20:49, 8. Molly Austin, Colorado, 20:51, 9. Tara Northcutt, Brigham Young, 20:55, 10. Maggie Guiney, Boston College, 20:56.
Top 10 Team Results (Men): 1. Colorado, 90, 2. Stanford, 91, 3. Arkansas, 118, 4. Northern Arizona, 193, 5. Wisconsin, 245, 6. Notre Dame, 248, 7. Portland, 273, 8. Villanova, 282, 9. N.C. State, 293, 10. Providence, 294. Women: 1. Brigham Young, 62, 2. N.C. State, 148, 3. Georgetown, 180, 4. Arizona, 194, 5. Stanford, 206, 6. Boston College, 232, 7. North Carolina, 239, 8. Colorado, 240, 9. Virginia, 303, 10. Providence, 337.
