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Beyer to nationals, Staab is all-region Release Date:
November 16, 2009
MONMOUTH, Ill. —
The cross country team experienced a bittersweet weekend at
last Saturday’s NCAA Midwest Regional at Lake Breeze Golf Course in
Winneconne, Wis.
Monmouth’s women placed 13th of 39 teams and the men were 25th of
39, but it was a pair of women’s individual performances for the
Scots that took center stage.
Junior Mary Kate Beyer placed 14th in the field of 273
runners and earned her second straight trip to the NCAA
Championships and achieved all-region status. Beyer bettered her own
class record, touring the 6K course in 22:03.4.
Senior Katie Staab earned her first all-region honor and
it could have been more. Staab was less than a half second off her
season’s best and placed 21st, just outside the last national
qualifying spot. Running in her final collegiate cross country race,
Monmouth’s No. 2 runner just missed qualifying for the national
meet by one place and 1.9 seconds.
“Katie ran very well and earned all-region honors for placing in
the top 35,” said Roger Haynes. “It was unfortunate that she came up
one position and 1-point-9 seconds short of being the last
individual qualifier. I’m sure that was difficult for her to take.”
Another senior and a freshman provided more bright spots for the
Scots’ women. Newcomer Rachel Bowden placed 104th, running
within four seconds of her season’s best with a 24:04.0. Senior
Amy Aghababian’s season’s best 24:13.5 put her 109th.
The rest of Monmouth’s women – Whitney Didier, Brittany
Frazier and Tori Beaty – finished 155th, 167th and 186th,
respectively.
While Beyer and Staab ran as expected for the women, Monmouth’s
men had a nice surprise. Freshman Jake Barr was the first
Scot across the finish line in an 8K race for the first time this
season, finishing 111th in 26:43.3.
“Jake ran very well,” praised Haynes. “He made a step in the
right direction.”
Barr was just two seconds ahead of Geoff Bird in 115th and
eight seconds faster than Paul Davies who placed 121st.
Alan Rosiquez (152nd), Connor Shields (158th), Tim
Bentz (184th) and Damon Bautista (243rd) rounded out the
men’s scoring.
Beyer will run at the NCAA Championships Saturday at Highland
Park Golf Course in Cleveland, Ohio.
Men's Cross Country |
Women's Cross Country
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