Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Pre-Nationals
Indiana Women's Cross Country Compete at Pre-Nationals
10/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
Pre-Nationals Blue Race Team Results in PDF Format
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Oct. 14, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Without the aid of its four and five runners, the Indiana women's cross country team placed 15th among a field of 36 at Pre-Nationals on Oct. 14 with a team score of 441 in the women's 6K blue race. The race was held at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute, Ind., the site of the 2006 NCAA Championships.
"We definitely stepped it up as a team today without our four and five runners," IU head women's cross country coach Judy Wilson said. "With those two, I think we could have been a top-six team and we will be right up there at the Big Ten Championships."
Senior All-American Jessica Gall paced the Hoosier harriers with a 6K time of 20:29 to finish seventh overall. Gall has been the leader of Indiana's pack in four consecutive races this season.
"It was a race that Jess (Gall) needed," Wilson said. "She kind of hesitated at about the 4K where she should have made a move, but this race really gave her a lot of confidence for Big Tens, the regional meet, and nationals."
Senior Lindsay Hattendorf placed 41st with a time of 21:00. Sophomores Wendi Robinson (21:18, 64th), Ashley Sommer (22:11, 161st) and Kristina Trcka (22:15/168th) rounded out IU's top-five with each posting career-best times
"Ashley Sommer and Kristina Trcka did a great job of moving up in the race," Wilson said. "Normally, they would have been our six and seven runners. The improvement they have show in a year has just been phenomenal. Lindsay (Hattendorf) and Wendi (Robinson) have a chance to be in the top-15 at Big Tens with it being held on our course."
Freshman Hailee Elmore placed 189th in a career-best 22:35 and junior Maura Ratcliff also ran a career-best 22:46 and placed 202nd.
Top-ranked Stanford won the women's blue race with a team score of 45 points, while No. 18 Minnesota finished second with 200 points and No. 16 Arizona State took third with 224 points.
The Hoosiers return to the IU Cross Country Championship Course when they host the Indiana 4K Championships on Saturday, Oct. 21.
Indiana Places/Times
1. Jessica Gall (7th/20:29)
2. Lindsay Hattendorf (41st/21:00)
3. Wendi Robinson (64th/21:18)*
4. Ashley Sommer (161st/22:11)*
5. Kristina Trcka (168th/22:15)*
6. Hailee Elmore (189th/22:35)*
7. Maura Ratcliff (202nd/22:46)*
*indicates career-best time
