LINCOLN - The Nebraska women’s cross country team scored 68 points to win its 11th Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational title on Saturday morning at Pioneer’s Park, while the men’s team placed fifth in the University standings with 133 points.
Junior captain Kim Pancoast led the Huskers to the championship with a career-high sixth-place finish in a time of 22:01, as Nebraska placed four women in the top 20. The Cape Girardeau, Mo., native sat in 21st-place near the 2-kilometer mark before making her move into the top 10 over the next kilometer.
Freshman Ari Goldstein followed Pancoast’s lead, and also moved into the top 10 between the 2- and 3-kilometer marks en route to a ninth-place finish in 22:14. Goldstein was followed closely by senior captain Kayte Tranel, who battled through recent sickness to finish in 10th place (22:20).
"We're improving," said Head Coach Jay Dirksen. "We've obviously made great improvements from the first meet. We have to get a lot better but we are headed in the right direction."
Another freshman, Natalja Zarcenko placed 16th in 22:41.
Sophomore Peter van der Westhuizen led the Husker men with a hard-fought eighth-place finish in the men’s 8K (25:34). The South African battled for a top-five finish throughout the race, and after slipping to ninth, gained a spot back near the finish.
"Peter ran really well," said Dirksen. "He is not used to doing these long cross country races. He is used to the short stuff from when he was in South Africa (4K). I thought he did a tremendous job. He was very under control."
Junior captain Bryce Dickmeyer saw great improvement from last year’s Woody Greeno, gaining 25 spots to place 52nd in a time of 27:00. A pair of freshmen also placed in the top 100, as Brian Parr and Kyle Custer crossed the line in 91st (27:23) and 92nd (27:23) respectively.
The Huskers get back on the road next weekend at the Roy Griak Invitational in St. Paul, Minn. The men’s 8K will start at noon, followed by the women’s 6K at 1 p.m.
Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational
Sept. 17, 2005 -- Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Results
Pioneer's Park -- Lincoln, Neb.
Women’s Overall Team Scores
1. Nebraska - 68
2. Colorado Mines - 99
3. Colorado-Colorado Springs - 158
4. Wyoming - 177
4. Nebraska-Omaha - 177
Women’s University Division Team Scores
1. Nebraska - 30
2. Wyoming - 74
3. Air Force - 106
4. South Dakota State - 114
5. Drake - 130
Top Five Finishers School Time
1. Anne Shadle, Reebok - 20:51
2. Diane Nukuri, Butler Community - 21:11
3. Shannon Payne, Colorado-Colorado Springs - 21:13
4. Kristin Anderson, Unattached - 21:40
5. Melissa Todd, Unattached - 21:45
NU Finishers:
6. Kim Pancoast, NU - 22:01
9. Ari Goldstein, NU - 22:14
10. Kayte Tranel, NU - 22:20
16. Natalja Zarcenko, NU - 22:41
45. Michaela Lenihan, NU - 23:39
82. Rachel Carrizales, NU - 24:20
83. Jennifer Pancoast, NU - 24:20
143. Val Zajac, NU - 25:27
DNF. Betsy Miller, NU
Men’s Overall Team Scores
1. Air Force - 42
2. Colorado Mines - 139
3. Drake - 154
6. Nebraska-Wesleyan - 181
8. Wichita State - 195
Men’s University Division Team Scores
1. Air Force - 24
2. Drake - 75
3. Wichita State - 89
4. Wyoming - 128
5. Nebraska - 122
Top Five Finishers School Time
1. Joseph Maina, Butler Community - 24:54
2. Jarod Wall, Central Missouri - 25:03
3. Joel Hamilton, Colorado Mines - 25:12
4. Philemon Tanui, Wyoming - 25:13
5. Nick Wilson, Air Force - 25:19
NU Finishers
8. Peter van der Westhuizen, NU - 25:34
62. Bryce Dickmeyer, NU - 27:00
91. Brian Parr, NU - 27:23
92. Kyle Custer, NU - 27:23
104. Aaron Nasers, NU - 27:31
121. Chris Clymer, NU - 27:47
Click the link above for complete results.
Courtesy: Scott Bruhn/NU Media Relations
