Women's Cross Country Finishes Second at Crimson Classic
9/18/2010 12:00:00 AM
Sept. 18, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - All five Alabama women's cross country scorers finished in the top-20 but it wasn't enough to counter a strong showing by Texas A&M as the Aggies narrowly edged the Crimson Tide at Saturday's Crimson Classic on Alabama's Harry Pritchett Running Course.
Texas A&M finished with 53 points in the 5-kilometer race to defeat UA by just four points followed by Samford in third with 111. Auburn (130) and Tulane (157) also finished in the top five of the 19-team field. Auburn's Holly Knight won the women's race in 16:59.30, the second fastest time in course history.
"I'm a little disappointed that we didn't win our home meet and our team will be disappointed about that," UA head coach Randy Hasenbank said. "It was a close race with a very similar-ranked team in their region - I think they're (Texas A&M) fifth or sixth in their region and we're fifth in ours - so we knew it'd be a very competitive team race between the two schools."
The Tide was paced by junior Andrea Torske's fourth-place finish with a time of 17:28.20, a 5k personal best by more than a full minute for Torske. Leigh Gilmore finished eighth with a personal best 5k time of 17:39.10.
"Andrea Torkse and Leigh Gilmore have shown tremendous improvement from last year, maybe as much as a minute faster than their time from last year, which is fantastic," Hasenbank said. "Once we get Kelsey (Johnson) and a couple others up there running where they need to be and also get a little bit sharper I think we will be a competitive squad by the end for sure."
Torske, who has been the Tide's top runner in both races this season, was able to use the course's terrain to her advantage as a veteran runner.
"On this course I mostly work to make sure I don't die on the hills, and then sprint back down the hills," Torske said. "I'm finally getting more used to college racing. I'm a lot less nervous before the race so I can really concentrate on running and not being nervous. It's just a matter of getting used to the whole atmosphere of college racing."
Kelsey Johnson finished in 13th with a time of 18:04.90 just ahead of teammate Katlyn Will in 14th at 18:06.20. Senior Haley Moody rounded out the scoring for UA in 18th place with an 18:14.90 finish. Elsbeth Denton and Dayle Van Ess finished just outside the scoring for UA in 23rd and 31st, respectively.
The Tide will have a week off from competition to prepare for the prestigious Notre Dame Invitational on Oct. 1 in South Bend, Ind.
2010 Crimson Classic
September 18, 2010
Tuscaloosa, Ala. - Harry Pritchett Running Course
Team Results
1. Texas A&M - 53
2. Alabama - 57
3. Samford - 111
4. Auburn - 130
5. Tulane - 157
6. Mississippi - 185
7. Southern Miss - 187
8. Nicholls State - 188
9. Kennesaw State - 240
10. Columbus State - 264
11. Troy - 318
11. Arkansas Pine-Bluff - 318
13. Alabama State - 324
14. West Alabama - 371
15. Mississippi Valley State - 374
16. Huntingdon - 449
17. Alcorn State - 481
18. Stillman - 512
19. William Carey - 556
Alabama Results
4. Andrea Torske - 17:28.20
8. Leigh Gilmore - 17:39.10
13. Kelsey Johnson - 18:04.90
14. Katlyn Will - 18:06.20
18. Haley Moody - 18:14.90
23. Elsbeth Denton - 18:22.40
31. Dayle Van Ess - 18:39.50
37. Lillian Goodman - 18:52.70
38. Megan Williams - 18:54.50
40. Claire Turner - 18:59.70
48. Sarah Gilmore - 19:15.50
51. Palee Myrex - 19:21.00
70. Meghan Hawkins - 19:56.60
73. Meredith Tyler - 20:02.80
