SMU wins C-USA cross country championship!
Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 11:09 amFrom SMUMustangs.com:
Mustangs Win Conference USA Title For Fourth Time In Five Years
Alenbratt, Powers Earn First Team All-Conference Honors
Oct. 29, 2012
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (SMU) - The SMU Mustangs knew this season would be a challenge with so much youth and such little experience. The team still set its sights high, aiming for a fourth Conference USA title in five years. SMU did just that, coasting to a 19-point victory over second-place Tulsa on Monday morning.
Fittingly, SMU's lone senior Mary Alenbratt led paced the Mustangs and finished in second overall, posting a career-best 5K time of 16:53.0.
"She's a really consistent racer," Coach Cathy Casey said of Alenbratt. "Every race she's gotten better. She knows how important (the C-USA meet) is and she used her experience to lead the team."
Ashlee Powers took Freshman of the Meet honors, crossing the line in 17:03.9. Both Powers and Alenbratt earned First Team All-C-USA honors for finishing in the top-seven. Three Mustangs took Second Team All-C-USA nods; Karoline Skatteboe finished eighth, Shenoah Souza placed 10th with a personal-best 17:27.4, and Caitlin Keen took 14th with a personal-best 17:38.8.
"They ran a really smart race," Casey said of her team. "It was a hilly, tough course. We focused on the last half of the race, which has been our goal all season long. Tulsa also ran a great race. It was challenging to beat them."
Casey also earned Coach of the Year honors in the C-USA. Casey led a young but talented team to the pinnacle of the conference. Three of SMU's top-five runners on Monday are freshmen.
Tulsa finished second, followed East Carolina and Rice and UAB tied for fourth. UTEP's Risper Kimaiyo took first place and Individual Medalist honors with a 16:42.8.
SMU will now head to the NCAA South Central Regional Championships on Friday, Nov. 9.
Mustangs Win Conference USA Title For Fourth Time In Five Years
Alenbratt, Powers Earn First Team All-Conference Honors
Oct. 29, 2012
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (SMU) - The SMU Mustangs knew this season would be a challenge with so much youth and such little experience. The team still set its sights high, aiming for a fourth Conference USA title in five years. SMU did just that, coasting to a 19-point victory over second-place Tulsa on Monday morning.
Fittingly, SMU's lone senior Mary Alenbratt led paced the Mustangs and finished in second overall, posting a career-best 5K time of 16:53.0.
"She's a really consistent racer," Coach Cathy Casey said of Alenbratt. "Every race she's gotten better. She knows how important (the C-USA meet) is and she used her experience to lead the team."
Ashlee Powers took Freshman of the Meet honors, crossing the line in 17:03.9. Both Powers and Alenbratt earned First Team All-C-USA honors for finishing in the top-seven. Three Mustangs took Second Team All-C-USA nods; Karoline Skatteboe finished eighth, Shenoah Souza placed 10th with a personal-best 17:27.4, and Caitlin Keen took 14th with a personal-best 17:38.8.
"They ran a really smart race," Casey said of her team. "It was a hilly, tough course. We focused on the last half of the race, which has been our goal all season long. Tulsa also ran a great race. It was challenging to beat them."
Casey also earned Coach of the Year honors in the C-USA. Casey led a young but talented team to the pinnacle of the conference. Three of SMU's top-five runners on Monday are freshmen.
Tulsa finished second, followed East Carolina and Rice and UAB tied for fourth. UTEP's Risper Kimaiyo took first place and Individual Medalist honors with a 16:42.8.
SMU will now head to the NCAA South Central Regional Championships on Friday, Nov. 9.