North Carolina State University Athletics
Lucas Propels USA Cross Country Team to Fourth Place Finish
3/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
March 29, 2003
Team USA finished in what would have been a three-way tie for fourth place in the World Cross Country Championships in Avenches, Switzerland on Saturday, but Julia Lucas' 41st place finish propelled the team into sole possession. The team finished with 82 points, tied with Great Britain and Northern Ireland, but because the teams fourth runner had a better finish, the USA grabbed the spot.
Lucas finished as the teams fourth runner and moved the team into sole possession of fourth place.
Said Lucas, "I didn't feel really good from the start but then half-way through I realized I was 4th [of six] and I needed to pick it up for the team. It was a tough race and I'm glad I ran a good second half."
Lucas finished the race with a time of 23 minutes, 40 seconds.
RESULTS
Individual Standings: 1, Tirunesh Dibaba, ETH, 20:21; 2, Peninah Chepchumba, KEN, 20:22; 3, Gelete Burika, ETH, 20:28; 4, Meselech Melkamu, ETH, 20:33; 5, Emily Chebet, KEN, 20:39.
USA Finishers: 20, Amy Hastings 22:34; 25, Rebecca Walter 22:50; 39, Clara Horowitz 23:35; 41, Julia Lucas 23:40; 51, Angela Homan 24:02; 58th, Laura Hodgson 24:08.
Top-Five Team Standings: 1, Ethiopia 14; 2, Kenya 22; 3, Morocco 78; 4, UNITED STATES 82; 5, Great Britain & Northern Ireland 82 [USA awarded 4th on basis of better fourth runner].
