Sept. 11, 2009
Cross Country Battles Weather as Squads Finish Fifth and Sixth
University Park, Pa. -- The Youngstown State cross county squads had to battle chilly temperatures and heavy rain en route to a fifth place finish for the women and a sixth place finish for the men at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational on Friday night.
Leading the women in the 6k race was senior Lauren Blase, who finished in 14th with a time of 22.36. Freshman Samantha Hamilton was the next Penguin to finish with a time of 22:42 to finish 18th. In 28th was junior Kayla Witmer with a time of 23:15.
Also scoring for the Penguins were freshmen Katherine Digby and Nelly Yegon. Digby finished in 41st with a time of 24:03, while Yegon crossed the finish line in 25:29 to claim 58th.
Senior Lisa Lee (25:41) and junior Kelcie Witmer (26:13) finished in 61st and 64th.
On men's side, junior Jim Ramson led the Penguins in the 5.2 mile race with a time 27:46 to finish in 29th. Fellow junior Jake Lape ran a time of 27:49 to claim 30th. Freshman Kiplangat Tisia finished one spot behind in 31st with a time of 27:51.
Rounding out the men's scoring were juniors Jake Dialesandro and Scott Denham. Dialesandro finished with a time of 28:38 to finish 44th and Denham finished 47th with a time of 28:50.
Also competing for the men were juniors Joe Copploe and Rick Lape. Copploe ran a time of 29:00 to finish in 49th, while Lape finished in 29:45 to take 59th.
Both squads return to action next Friday as they head to Delaware, Ohio to take part in the All-Ohio Championships hosted by Ohio Wesleyan at Delaware Golf Club. The event is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.