Fjortoft Claims Individual Crown
Nov. 1, 2008
MEMPHIS (SMU) - The SMU Mustangs won the 2008 Conference USA women's cross country championship on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex. It is the first C-USA title for the SMU cross country program and snaps a two-year reign by the Rice Owls. SMU's Silje Fjortoft won the individual title as well, besting defending champion Alex Becker of Tulsa.
Despite entering the race as an underdog to the Owls, SMU left little doubt in winning the title, bettering Rice by 10 points. In addition to Fjortoft's great run, all the SMU runners turned in stellar performances, with three Mustangs claiming top-10 finishes and all five scorers ranking in the top 12 of the 82-person race.
Fjortoft crossed the line of the 5K course in 16:46, 17 seconds ahead of Becker. 2006 All-American Rachael Forish took sixth in 17:24, while freshman Monika Korra was 10th in 17:39. Claire Hardwick (17:41) and Jessa Simmons (17:42) rounded out the SMU scorers in 11th and 12th, respectively.
Full results are available here.
http://smumustangs.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_ ... f/2008CUSA
The championship was the first for the SMU women since winning the 2004 Western Athletic Conference title.
The Mustangs return to the course at the NCAA Regionals, Nov. 15, in Waco, Texas.
http://smumustangs.cstv.com/sports/w-xc ... 08aab.html
I told you so!!!!!
