The Murray State cross country team’s start to the 2012 season was delayed by Mother Nature on Saturday night, but after a near two hour lightning and rain delay the Racers began their season at the Memphis Twilight Classic.
The Racer women had a very strong showing and finished in fourth-place out of 21 teams. Freshman Abbie Simmonds-Ashbee (East Armstead, England) was the top finisher for MSU on the night, finishing in eighth with a time of 19:03.93. Carolyne Tanui (Eldoret, Kenya) also finished in the top-15 with a time of 19:25.68, good enough for 12th-place.
Abbie Oliver placed 22nd with a time of 19:55.66. Leah Krause, Rebecca Hbetamu and Brittany Bohn finished in a pack together, going 45th, 46th and 47th respectively. Krause ran 20:28.06, while Hbetamu ran in 20:30.93 and Bohn finished in 20:31.90. Anne Jablinski ran a time of 20:35.84 for the Racers and finished in 52nd.
Anna Grimes (20:57.42) and Jacquelyn Thate (20:57.63) placed 63rd and 64th. Katie Johnson ran a time of 22:26.70 in her first collegiate meet. While Abby Baker (22:36.17), Sara Davis (23:42.45) and Becky Morris (25:54.60) rounded-out the times for the Racers on the evening.
The Racer men placed 17th at the Classic. Lucas Prather was the top finisher for MSU. The freshman from Mahomet, Ill., finished 50th with a time of 22:20.01. Jarred Koerner (Champaign, Ill.) placed 71st with a time of 22:52.26. Jordan Althoff ran a time of 24:17.26 for the Racers.
Clayton Hall ran a time of 24:32.43. While James Chute (25:09.12), Chase Darnell (25:38.68), Will Elledge (27:00.32) and Griffin Kelley (29:46.74) rounded-out the times for the young Murray State squad.
The women’s race on Saturday was a 5K, while the men ran a four-mile course. The Racers will have next weekend off and will next be in action on Sept. 15 as they will head to Nashville, Tenn., for the Commodore Classic.
Story courtesy of sports information