Posted: November 23, 2004

Athletics: Colorado sweeps NCAA Division I cross country titles

The University of Colorado won the men's and women's team titles Monday at the 2004 NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championships at the LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Indiana. The event was hosted by Indiana State University.

Colorado took the women's national title paced by Renee Metevier's runner-up finish in 20 minutes, 26 seconds. Liza Pasciuto placed ninth in 20 minutes, 48 seconds, while Christine Bolf rounded out the Top 10 in 20:48. Other scorers for Colorado were Sara Slattery in 20th place in 21:07, and Natalie Florence finished 22nd in 21:08. Colorado finished the event with 63 points to claim the title. Duke University was the runner-up with 144 points, with Providence third with 164 points and Notre Dame fourth with 170 points. The win marks the second national championship for Colorado, having previously won in 2000.

Kim Smith of Providence College finished the course in 20:08 to win the individual tile. Smith, who previously won NCAA Championships in indoor track for the 3,000 and 5,000 meters, as well as in outdoor track for the 5,000 meters during 2004, finished the cross country season undefeated. She took All-American honors in cross country a season ago; finishing second at last year's national championships. Smith is the first runner from the Providence women's program to win an individual national title.

Colorado's previously unbeaten Renee Metevier finished second in of 20:26, while Columbia's Caroline Bierbaum was third in 20:30. 2002 NCAA Champion Shalane Flanagan's 6 km course record of 19:36.0 was not challenged due to the muddy conditions.

Colorado's men's squad won the team championship with a narrow four-point win over the University of Wisconsin. The Buffaloes placed three runners in the top 25 led by Brent Vaughn, who paced Colorado in fourth, finishing the 10 km course in 30:49. Bret Schoolmeester was fifth in 30:57. Other Colorado scorers were Jon Severy in 15th in 31:27; Stephen Pifer placed 31st in 31:57 and James Strang was 35th in 32:00.

Colorado's winning tally in the team competition was 98 points, followed by Wisconsin (94 points) with three runners in the Top 11, but Colorado's two runners in the top five was too much to overcome. Arkansas was third with 202 points, placing three runners in the top 25. Butler was fourth with 243 points.

The Badgers were paced by Simon Bairu, who won the individual competition and his first NCAA title in 30:37. Matt Gonzales of New Mexico was second in 30:40, and Arkansas' Josphat Boit was third in 30:41.

This year marks the second time that the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships have been hosted by Indiana State University, with the first in 2002. The event will return to Terre Haute in both 2005 and 2006.

Adams State , Western State nab NCAA Division II titles

The Adams State University women's cross country team successfully defended its team title and Western State University won the men's crown Saturday at the 2004 Division II Championships in Evansville, Indiana.

Adams State easily won the women's team title for the second consecutive year by totaling 31 points. Edinboro University was a distant second with 101 points and Western State was third with 134. Victoria Martinez placed fifth (21:46) to lead Adams State to the victory. The individual competition was won by BYU-Hawaii's Chelsea Smith, who finished first in 21:33, with Clayton State's Allison Kreutzer the runner-up in 21:36 and Alisha Williams of Western State third in 21:42.

On the men's side, the Western State team came in first with 39 points, followed by Adams State in second with 76 points and Abilene Christian third with 137.

Nicodemus Naimadu of Abilene Christian won the individual competition, crossing the finish line in 31:38., just barely ahead of Western State's runner-up Oliver Bodor, who also was timed in 31:38.2. Other Western State harriers placing in the top ten included Kelly Christensen (3rd-31:52) and William Banks (6th-32:20).

Calvin College , Williams College win NCAA Division III crowns

At the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships on Saturday in Colfax, Wisconsin, Calvin College earned its second straight men's title, as Wartburg College's Josh Moen repeated as the individual champion.

Calvin College won the men's team event with 107 points, as North Central College finished as the runner-up with 137 points, with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse placing third with 148 points. Top finishers for Calvin included Jeff Engbers (12th-25:11), Tim Finnegan (17th-25:13), Dave Haagsman (18th-25:15) and Hendrik Hok (26th-25:21). Moen won the individual competition in 24:28, with Neal Holtschulte, Jr., of Williams College, the runner-up in 24:41. Mike Sawicki, Jr., of Otterbein College was third in 24:43.

Williams College won the women's Div. III team title Saturday at Colfax as Wartburg's Missy Buttry easily won the individual title. Buttry won the women's race after being named USATF' Athlete of the Week last Tuesday for successfully defending her title November 15 at the 2004 NCAA Division III Central Region Cross Country Championships in Waverly, Iowa. Buttry won the NCAA title by crossing the finish line in 20:22, well ahead of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's runner-up Liz Woodworth (20:46). Jenn Campbell (21:25) and Caroline Cretti (21:26) led Williams College to the win by placing third and fourth respectively.

Williams College won the women's team title with its total of 110 points. Middlebury College tallied 129 points for second place and Washington University (Mo.) was third with 149 points.

For more information on the 2004 NCAA Cross Country Championships, visit www.ncaasports.com.