Oct. 31, 2009
Women Continue Improving, Finish Fourth at League Meet
Milford, Mich. -- The Youngstown State cross country teams showed constant improvement throughout the season and it continued on Saturday afternoon as the women's squad finished in fourth place, while the men took sixth at the Horizon League Championships at Kensington Metro Park.
The women's squad continued its upward climb in the Horizon League standing by improving each of the last two years, as they finished 10th in 2007 and seventh in 2008. Leading the way was senior Lauren Blase and freshman Samantha Hamilton.
With their finishes, both earned second team All-Horizon Team as Blase claimed 10th and Hamilton was one spot behind in 11th. Blase ran a career-bestime of 19:22, while Hamilton was right just .70 seconds behind with a time of 19:22.70.
Junior Kayla Witmer remained solid throughout the season and did not disappoint as she finished in 24th with a time of 20:28. Freshman Katherine Digby was the fourth Penguin to finish as she took 29th with a time of 20:38. Senior Lisa Lee had a career-best time of 21:07.20 to finish in 42nd.
Nelly Yegon, a freshman, finished in 62nd with a time of 22:21.30. Senior Dawn Goodwin rounded out the scoring for Youngstown State with a 63rd-place time of 22:30. Junior Kelcie Witmer also competed for the Penguins and ran a time of 22:49.30.
On the men's side, the Penguins finished in sixth for the second consecutive season and were led by freshman Kiplangat Tisia. Tisia finished in 24th with a time of 27:21.60. Junior Jake Lape again finished in the top three among Penguins, with a time of 27:45.60 to finish the event in 30th.
Five juniors in Jake Dialesandro, Rick Lape, Joe Copploe, Jim Ramson, and Scott Denham rounded out the Penguins scoring. Dialesandro finished in 34th with a time of 27:56.70. Lape and Copploe finished in 36th and 39th with times of 28:00.70 and 28:13.30.
Ramson finished the event in 56th with a time of 29:16.50, while Denham was one spot behind in 57th with a time of 29:22.60. Freshmen Lance Ronghi and Aron Korir also competed at the meet for the men's team. Ronghi ran a time of 30:46.50, while Korir crossed the finish line at 31:03.80.
Both squads are off next week and will return to action on Nov. 14 when they travel to Bloomington, Ind. to take part in the Great Lakes Regional.