Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Pre-NCAA Meet (Women 6K, Men 8K)
Rinker wins Open Race at Pre-Nationals; Byrne finishes fourth
10/15/2005 | 12:00:00 | Cross Country
Oct. 15, 2005
By Matt Crouch
www.SIUSalukis.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Southern Illinois University cross country team wrapped up its regular season schedule Saturday at the Pre-Nationals, hosted by Indiana State University. Junior Sarah Rinker won the women's Open Race to lead the women to a runner-up team finish. Senior Joe Byrne finished fourth in the men's Open Race as the men finished sixth as a team.
Indiana State University, host of the 2005 NCAA Championship, hosted the Pre-Nationals. There were three divisions, Blue, White and Open, with the Salukis competing in the Open divisions.
"I'm encouraged for the most part," said SIU head cross country coach Matt Sparks. "We still have a couple pieces to put together in the next couple weeks, though."
The Pre-Nationals is the last regular season meet for the Salukis. SIU will take a week off before competing in the MVC Championships Oct. 29 in Evansville, Ind.
Rinker led the way for the women's team in the Open division's 6K, picking up her second individual title of the season. Rinker also won the EIU Panther Open earlier this season.
The junior from Pontiac, Ill., finished the race in 21:24.70, winning by nine seconds over Michigan's Claire Otwell. It was also her fastest 6K time of the season.
Rinker's win led the Salukis to a second-place finish of out the 13 teams, coming in behind the University of Michigan.
Lindsay Wagner also performed well at the meet with a top-20 finish. Wagner completed the race in 22:19.20, finishing 19th overall.
Katie Birn and Cherylynn Schilling were close behind with Birn coming in at 33rd with 22:39.30. Schilling finished 37th with a time of 22:44.90.
Shelby Brice rounded out the Saluki effort as she finished 93rd, running the 6K in 23:52.60. The Pre-Nationals was Brice's second race of the season.
Byrne picked up his second top finish of the season, finishing fourth in the men's Open Race with a time of 24:40.70, his fastest time of the season.
Freshman Mohamed Mohamed finished 38th with a time of 25:46.90 while fellow freshman Brad Pirok finished 61st with a time of 26:09.50.
Seniors Kyle Monroe and Rob Duncan finished 89th and 100th, respectively. Monroe came in with a time of 26:43.10 as Duncan came in at 26:57.50.
Also competing for the Salukis were Mark Bowman (112th, 27:14.40), Tom Gentry (119th, 27:28.50), and Jason Brosseau (137th, 28:38.50).
As a team, SIU finished sixth of the 11 teams in the Open Race with Notre Dame taking top honors.
"It was encouraging to see Joe Byrne and Sarah Rinker do well and I am excited from that standpoint," said Sparks.
"This was a good final race leading into the MVC meet. It was a positive experience."
