Blue Devils Finish Seventh of 37 At Penn State

Saturday, October 15

State College, Pa.

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Duke University

Penn State Invitational

Duke Track & Field Geared Up For Promising Weekend, Season

Blue Devils Finish Seventh of 37 At Penn State

10/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country

By: Duke Sports Information

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA. -- Duke's top men's and womens' cross country teams competed together for the first time all season Saturday at the Penn State National Cross Country Meet, where the women dominated 33 other teams to win the event with 22 points. The men finished seventh among 37 teams from around the country with 217 points, defeating ACC opponents Virginia Tech (12th) and Maryland (25th).

For the second straight meet, senior Shannon Rowbury claimed the individual title by running a 20:34 6K. Rowbury was closely trailed by fellow seniors Clara Horowitz and Sally Meyerhoff, who earned second and third place times of 20:35 and 20:42, respectively. Duke's five scorers were among the first 10 runners to cross the line, with a difference in times of only 32 seconds.

Senior Laura Stanley and freshman Whitney Anderson rounded out the Blue Devil scoring in sixth and 10th place, while seniors Natasha Roetter and Liz Wort finished 11th and 16th, respectively. Running only their second 6K race in 2005, all seven of Duke's top runners earned season-best times.

Sophomore Chris Spooner led the Blue Devil men for the first time this season, crossing the finish line of the 5.2 mile race at 25:53, less than a minute behind the race champion. Spooner was followed by junior Dan Daly, who ran a 26:16 to finish 43rd. Junior Keith Krieger and seniors Cameron Bell and Chas Salmen finished within two seconds of each other to place 51st, 53rd and 55th, respectively, and score for Duke.

Several Blue Devils competed in the B races, with junior Kyle Kershner and sophomore Mark Buha earning top-five finishes. Freshman Patricia Loughlin and senior Lindsay Owen ran in the top 30 of the women's B race.

Duke's women's A team is undefeated through three meets after winning the San Diego Invitational with a perfect 15 points, the Nike Race of Champions at the Great American Cross Country Festival with 20 points and the Penn State Nationals with 22 points. A Blue Devil has won an individual title in all three meets. Duke's men are now 54-14 through three meets in the 2005 campaign.

Both teams will next race at the ACC Championships, held at Florida State on Oct. 31.

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