SU Distance Runners Sweep First-Place Again
9/13/2008 2:45:14 PM | Cross Country
Full men's results
Full women's results
University Park, Pa. – The Syracuse men’s and women’s cross country teams swept the competition with first-place finishes at the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe Invitational hosted by Penn State on Saturday, Sept. 13. The Orange men and women have claimed the top spots the last two weeks in each of their respective races.
The men’s harriers dominated the field, led by junior Dan Busby’s first-place performance of 25:58 on the 5.2 mile course. In addition to Busby’s top finish, the Orange turned in a perfect 15 points, sweeping the remaining top five slots.
SU’s women were directed by junior Maegan Krifchin’s second-place effort of 21:39. The women’s race was conducted on a 6K challenge.
“This is certainly a great way to start off a season in which I have high expectations,” head coach Chris Fox said. “We will have to train very hard these next couple weeks if we want to see the same results at the Paul Short Invitational.”
Following Busby’s strong performance was sophomore James Murdock in second-place with a clip of 26:04. The Orange’s next four runners finished within four second of each other as junior Jay Koloseus crossed the line in 26:22 for third-place, freshman Tito Medrano was clocked at a fourth-place time of 26:24 and junior Griff Graves earned SU fifth-place points in 26:25. Junior Brad Miller closed out the men’s top six sweep in 26:26. Junior Curtis Bixler, last week’s individual champion at the Harry Lang Invitational, finished 15th on Saturday with a time of 26:47.
Following up on Krifchin’s Orange-leading act was senior Nana Sang-Bender who finished in third-place in 21:48. Freshman Lauren Penney broke the tape in 22:05 for a sixth-place finish while junior Stefanie Slekis’ pace of 22:17 produced ninth-place points for the Orange. Sophomore Catherine DeSarle was SU’s fifth runner in the top ten, finishing the 6K course in 22:23 for 10th place. Freshman Heather Stephens and sophomore Rebekah McKay finished 12th and 13th, respectively, with times of 22:31 and 22:32.
Penn State’s Cheryl Spring won the individual medal in 21:29.
The Orange has a two week hiatus before competing at the Paul Short Invitational on Friday, Oct. 3 in Bethlehem, Pa. hosted by Lehigh Univeristy. SU eyes down its third consecutive first-place sweep in 2008.
