Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
Saluki Invitational
Cross Country sweeps team titles at Saluki Invitational
09/24/2011 | 12:00:00 | Cross Country
Sept. 24, 2011
By Robin Thuringer
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. --The Southern Illinois Cross Country team dominated Saturday morning as they hosted the Saluki Invitational.
The Saluki men finished the 8K with a perfect score securing the win. Neal Anderson won the race with a time of 25:31.6. Brain Dixon had another strong showing placing second with a time of 25:45.9. Zach Dahleen took third place with a time of 25:49.4.
Lucas Cherry, in his first race of the season finished in fifth place with a time of 26:10.9. T.J. Heffernan rounded out the top-five posting a time of 26:24.1.
"Any time you put up a perfect score that is exciting," said SIU coach Matt Sparks. "This is the first time we had run this course so I wasn't sure what to expect especially with the two inches of rain last night slowing things down but we did well."
In addition, five other men's runners posted top 25 finishes on the muddy course. Kulayifi Haji, Cole Allison, and Evan Ehrenheim placed ninth, tenth, and eleventh, respectively.
Juan Carrera and Oscar Medina placed 14th and 16th as unattached runners. Nick Schrader placed 19th with a time of 27:53.7 and Brad Wrage finished with a time of 28:16.2 taking the 24th spot.
The women's team captured their second straight title of the season. Lacey Gibson was the top team finisher placing second overall with a time of 19:04.8. Kelley Gallagher finished fourth with a time of 19:10.6
"Lacey Gibson lead the ladies which really wasn't a surprise she had great practices the past two weeks and has stepped up as an on the course leader for the freshman."
Senior Jamie Pfister took the fifth spot with a time of 19:15. Sarah McIntosh, Eileen Schweiss, and Sadie Darnell finished in the top ten placing seventh, eighth, and ninth, respectively.
Transfer Alyssa Allison won the race as an unattached runner finishing with a time of 18:41.9.
"I told the team I really wanted to see the effort and that the people you are racing the last mile and how those individuals battles come out. For the most part we came out ahead on all those races and did well."
The Salukis will return to action on Oct. 1 when they travel Louisville, Ky. to compete in the Greater Louisville Classic.
Players Mentioned
