NCAA Cross Country Championships
Terre Haute, saw a great day for this NCAA Cross Country Championships 2009. Along with some great races, it also came along with it’s own fair share of drama.
Liberty’s Sam Chelanga dominated the men’s race, with only the course record as a challenge. His biggest competitor Chris Derrick fell behind a sizeable lead by the Kenyan, even after holding back in the first 1k. He continued his lead and won the new course in a record time of 28:41. Leaving Derrick, David McNeil from Nothern Arizona and Mississippi’s Barnabus Kirui in his wake.
He broke last years mark set by Galen Rupp by 22 seconds. With McNeil coming in second place and Derrick taking the stand in third.
Oklahoma State placed three in the top 15 leading the championships. Prior to the day is was supposed to be Stanford versus Oklahoma State, but this isn’t how it panned out. It seeming that Stanford just not able to handle the pressure. Oregan ran well, taking a runner- up trophy, with their Sophomore Luke Puskedra taking a 21st place finish. Alabama’s Tyson David came in 22nd. In tenth place overall Stanford after coming in to the competition as strong favourites. Finished on 227 points behind Oklahoma State.
The women’s race was not a good one for 2008 Olympian Jenny Barringer of Colorado, who suffered a collapse leaving her without a collegiate cross country title.
She set out well being trailed by Susan Kuijken from Florida State, But just after the 2k mark she slumped, falling behind Kuijken. Later in the race cameras even capturing Barringer falling to the ground. Although getting back up she finished in XX place.
Angela Bizzarri of Illinois and Kendra Schaff of Washington were the leaders who fought out the race to it’s finality with Bizzarri, taking out her first NCAA cross country title with her amazing last 400m. Sophomore Schaff took the runner up title and Kuijken crossing the line 3rd.
Barringer said about her performance, “I didn’t feel so good about halfway in to it and every time I tried to push it I had to stop.”
The Villanova Wildcats took the team side’s national championship, from the defending champions, and #1 ranked, Washington Huskies. The Wildcats led with 6th-place finisher Amanda Marino and 13th-place finisher Sheila Reid. Florida State made runner-up position, led by Kuijken’s third-place run. The Huskies only made it to a third-place finish, after coming to the comp as favourites.