ATHENS, Ohio – Behind 12 season-best times and four lifetime-best times, the Cleveland State cross country team had an excellent performance at the Ohio Invitational Saturday morning, placing second as a team and recording one of their best races over the past few seasons.
"I am extremely proud of our results today, everyone had a great race, including some lifetime bests," head coach Joe Jaketic said. "The weather was perfect for running, and it was awesome to see how we performed individually and as a team. Everyone is continuing to improve from week-to-week and you can definitely tell that all of their hard work during practice is starting to pay off."
Ashlyn Woods was one of four top-15 finishers for the Vikings Saturday, pacing CSU for the third straight race, finishing fifth overall in a lifetime-best time of 19:14. Erin Pavick also set a lifetime-best, crossing the finish line just two places behind Woods, with a time of 19:15.
Tori Holt, who was running in her first race of the year due to preseason injury, placed ninth overall with a time of 19:28, giving Cleveland State three runners with sub 20-minute 5K times in the same race for the first time since the 2011 season.
Freshman Alanna Shamrock was the final top-15 finisher for CSU Saturday, finishing 15th overall with a time of 20:01, just shy of breaking the 20-minute mark, but still setting a personal-best. Also setting a personal-best was Sarah Mallow, who finished right Behind Shamrock with a time of 20:14.
Amelia Holt, Katie Webb and Ashley Lydic were the next three Vikings to cross the finish line, led by Amelia Holt who set a lifetime-best finishing in 20:26 to place 18th overall. Webb placed 19th overall (20:31), while Lydic placed 21st (20:52).
The quartet of Jesse Stallings (21:24), Shannon Kruger (21:30), Megan O'Keefe (22:24) and Amanda Kalain (22:26) were the final Vikings to compete Saturday, with Kruger marking a lifetime-best.
"Time-wise, everyone exceeded my expectations today, and we are definitely moving in the right direction as the season progresses. To have all 12 runners record season-best times and to have four runners post lifetime bests is just awesome and I hope that this continues throughout the rest of the season," Jaketic said.
The Vikings will continue the 2013 season next weekend, participating in the Friendship Invitational in Cedarville, Ohio on Saturday, Sept. 21.
CSU Results
5. Ashlyn Woods, 19:14
7. Erin Pavick, 19:15
9. Tori Holt, 19:28
15. Alanna Shamrock, 20:01
16. Sarah Mallow, 20:14
18. Amelia Holt, 20:26
19. Katie Webb, 20:31
20. Ashley Lydic, 20:31
28. Jesse Stallings, 21:24
29. Shannon Kruger, 21:30
32. Megan O'Keefe, 22:24
35. Amanda Kalain, 22:26
