Women's cross country team places 11th, Wright an All-American
By Josh Rizzo
Rocket Sports Editor
Issue date: 12/5/08 Section: Sports
The Rock women's cross country ran in its first national championship cross country race in 13 years on Saturday, Nov. 22. The No. 12 ranked Rock women's squad did not disappoint, finishing in 11th place as a team.
Coach John Papa was pleased with the way his team performed.
"We were ranked No. 12 coming into the race," Papa said. "We were hoping to finish higher than where we were designated."
The Rock finished with 313 points, 234 behind eventual Division II National Champion Adams State College (Colo.).
Adams State won the national title in the men and women's race.
The Rock also finished 101 points behind Atlantic Regional Champion and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference rival Shippensburg University. Shippensburg finished in sixth place.
The race, which was blanketed by a cold front in the area, took place at Cooper's Lake Campground, giving SRU the homefield advantage.
Senior Jaime Wright led the Rock, finishing in 20th place with a time of 22:17. Wright's 20th place finish was scored for 15 points for the Rock because five individual runners finished ahead of her.
Wright earned All-Americans honors by finishing 20th. Last year, Wright finished in 84th place in the national championship race.
Wright said the cold weather did not affect her performance.
"I actually do better when the course is in poor condition," Wright said. "My senior year of high school I placed fourth in the state in the Maryland state meet, where the course was muddy from the rain."
Coming in after Wright for SRU was junior Jen Harpp (22:49) in 40th, sophomore Crystal Burnick (23:35) in 86th, senior Leslie Kramer in 118th (24:01) and junior Laura Mucho (24:08) in 125th.
The Rock will be losing four of its top seven runners. Wright, Mucho, Kramer and senior Katie Bork will not be returning next season.
Wright said this was the ultimate race for her.
"After I finished, I was shocked at where I finished," Wright said. "I felt great. Track has always been my first priority."
Coach John Papa was pleased with the way his team performed.
"We were ranked No. 12 coming into the race," Papa said. "We were hoping to finish higher than where we were designated."
The Rock finished with 313 points, 234 behind eventual Division II National Champion Adams State College (Colo.).
Adams State won the national title in the men and women's race.
The Rock also finished 101 points behind Atlantic Regional Champion and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference rival Shippensburg University. Shippensburg finished in sixth place.
The race, which was blanketed by a cold front in the area, took place at Cooper's Lake Campground, giving SRU the homefield advantage.
Senior Jaime Wright led the Rock, finishing in 20th place with a time of 22:17. Wright's 20th place finish was scored for 15 points for the Rock because five individual runners finished ahead of her.
Wright earned All-Americans honors by finishing 20th. Last year, Wright finished in 84th place in the national championship race.
Wright said the cold weather did not affect her performance.
"I actually do better when the course is in poor condition," Wright said. "My senior year of high school I placed fourth in the state in the Maryland state meet, where the course was muddy from the rain."
Coming in after Wright for SRU was junior Jen Harpp (22:49) in 40th, sophomore Crystal Burnick (23:35) in 86th, senior Leslie Kramer in 118th (24:01) and junior Laura Mucho (24:08) in 125th.
The Rock will be losing four of its top seven runners. Wright, Mucho, Kramer and senior Katie Bork will not be returning next season.
Wright said this was the ultimate race for her.
"After I finished, I was shocked at where I finished," Wright said. "I felt great. Track has always been my first priority."
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