Oct. 27, 2007
Contact: Greg Murphy
VALPARAISO, Ind. - Cleveland State continued its steady climb to becoming competitive in the Horizon League by placing ninth at the league championships on Saturday morning at Sunset Hills Park. It marks the second straight season that the Vikings placed ahead of another school at the league championships.
It is the first time since 1996-97 that the Vikings finished ahead of at least one league school in back-to-back seasons.
Butler won the 2007 championship with 33 points and was followed by Milwaukee (60), Loyola (62), Valparaiso (118), UIC (145), Detroit (196), Green Bay (198), Wright State (210), Cleveland State (225) and Youngstown State (233).
"We ran really hard today and left it all on the course," head coach Joe Jaketic said. "The course was a little soft and slow today because there was some rain yesterday, but the team really stayed focused and ran a good race."
Freshman Allison Craine was CSU's top finisher for the eighth time in as many races this season as she placed 19th overall in 19:51. She was the fourth freshman to finish and is the first CSU harrier to finish in the top-20 in more than 10 years.
Sophomore Colleen Conway placed 43rd overall in 20:51, while classmate Julie Piotrowski was CSU's third finisher as she ran a 20:59 en route to finishing 50th.
Sophomore Alison Ohliger and freshman Jordan Hoile rounded out the scoring for the Vikings as they finished neck-and-neck. Ohliger was 61st in 21:16, while Hoile was just two second behind and placed 62nd.
Juniors Audrey Piotrowski (754th in 21:50), Melisa Mazanec (89th in 23:33) and Amy Salzman (90th in 23:37) also competed for CSU, but did not factor into the scoring.
The league championship meet concludes the 2007 for CSU.
"I am very proud of everything that we accomplished as a team this season," Jaketic said. "And to end the season on a high note like this at the conference championships is a great feeling."
CSU FINISHERS
19th. Allison Craine - 19:51
41st. Colleen Conway - 20:51
48th. Julie Piotrowski - 20:59
61st. Alison Ohliger - 21:16
62nd. Jordan Hoile - 21:18
74th. Audrey Piotrowski - 21:50
89th. Melisa Mazanec - 23:33
90th. Amy Salzman - 23:37
