November 05, 2005
Eagle runners going to nationals after third-place finishes
Men's Results
Women's Results
BIG RAPIDS, Mich.—The University of Southern Indiana men's and women's cross country teams are going to nationals after finishing third in their respective fields Saturday at the NCAA II Great Lakes Regional Championships.
It marks the first time since 1997 and the first under Head Coach Mike Hillyard that the Screaming Eagles' men have advanced to nationals.
USI's women are sending a team to nationals for the first time since 2003. It is just the second time, and the first since 1997, that USI is sending both squads to nationals.
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Rey Alvarez |
Junior
Rey Alvarez (Danville, Illinois) finished third overall, with a 10k time of 31 minutes, 42.50 seconds to lead the men's squad. USI had four runners finish in the top 15 as all four garnered All-Region honors.
Senior
Jesse Davis (Bloomington, Indiana) crossed the finish line in 32 minutes, 2.50 seconds to place ninth, while sophomore
Paul Jellema (Dyer, Indiana) and freshman
Tim Sirbek (Hammond, Indiana) were 13th and 14th, respectively. Senior
David Tyler (Evansville, Indiana) rounded out the men's scoring with a 21st-place finish.
USI's men, ranked ninth nationally, finished with 60 points, while No. 5-ranked Grand Valley State University was first with 43 points and No. 7-ranked Wayne State University was second with 54 points.
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Heather Cooksey |
Senior
Heather Cooksey (Brownsburg, Indiana) saw her five-race unbeaten streak come to an end as she finished second with a 6k time of 21 minutes, 22.80 seconds. Junior
Missy Burgin (Sellersburg, Indiana) was 10th with a time of 22 minutes, 21.60 seconds. Both earned All-Region honors.
Junior
Carrie Leimberger (Indianapolis, Indiana) was USI's third finisher as she crossed the line in 30th place Senior
Casey Schneider (New Salisbury, Indiana) and freshman
Allison Shafer (Plainville, Indiana) were 34th and 37th, respectively, to round out USI's scoring.
USI's women, ranked seventh nationally, finished with 113 points, while No. 2-ranked Grand Valley State University was first with 29 points and No. 12-ranked University of Wisconsin-Parkside was second with 110 points. No. 3-ranked Northern Michigan University was fourth with 123 points.
The NCAA II National Championships are slated for November 19 in Pomona, California.
Dan McDonnell,
USI Sports Information
