North Carolina State University Athletics
Cross Country Falls Short At NCAA Championships
11/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Most of the 2006 cross country season was a joy ride for NC State, which won dual ACC championships for the ninth time in 16 years and entered Monday’s NCAA Championships at Terre Haute, Ind., with high hopes for dual top 10 finishes, or better.
Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Top-20 finishes, high goals for many cross country programs, are considered a disappointment at NC State because of the program’s outstanding championship tradition. Consequently, the 2006 NCAA Championships were a disappointment for both the Wolfpack men and women. The women, despite All-America performances from senior Julia Lucas and freshman Bona Jones, came in 19th. The men were 16th.
Stanford, which was ranked No. 1 all season, won the women’s team championship with 195 points. Colorado finished second with 223, Michigan third with 233, and Wisconsin fourth with 262. Arkansas took fifth place with 286 points, and Texas Tech was sixth with 300.
Sophomore Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech won the women’s national championship, running the 6k course in a blistering time of 20:11.1, which was 26.8 seconds ahead of runner-up Jenny Barringer of Colorado.
The NC State women, who entered the race ranked No. 3 nationally, got outstanding races from Lucas, who finished fifth at 20:47.1, and Jones, who came in 26th at 21:17.0. Lucas and Jones both earned All-America honors. Jones is the 10th NC State freshman to earn All-America, the ninth on the women’s side. Jones was one of just two freshmen to earn All-America honors this season.
The Wolfpack ran into trouble directly behind Lucas and Jones. Sophomore Brittany Tinsley got sick during the race and and finished near the back of the pack. Sophomore Amy Kelly was the Wolfpack’s third runner, finishing 131st overall and scoring 99 points with a time of 22:23.2. Junior Angelina Blackmon (22:39.5) was 167th and scored 133 points, and junior Anne Wheatly (23:09.9) rounded out the scoring for NC State, finishing 205th and scoring 169 points.
The men continues their season-long trend of running in a tightly bunched group, but unlike at the ACC Championships or the NCAA Southeast Regionals, they did not penetrate nearly close enough to the front of the pack to score well. Tibor Vegh (32:33.3) led the Wolfpack, but finished just 94th overall, scoring 67 team points. Stephen Furst (32:41.8) was 110th overall and scored 81 team points. John Crews was right behind Furst, finishing 114th in a time of 34:42.9. He scored 85 points.
Gavin Coombs (32:56.5) was next for the Wolfpack, finishing 138th and scoring 104 points. Bryce Ruiz (33:13.4) rounded out the scoring for NC State, finishing 167th overall and scoring 132 team points. Ruiz is a senior, Coombs a sophomore. Vegh, Crews and Furst at juniors.
Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Top-20 finishes, high goals for many cross country programs, are considered a disappointment at NC State because of the program’s outstanding championship tradition. Consequently, the 2006 NCAA Championships were a disappointment for both the Wolfpack men and women. The women, despite All-America performances from senior Julia Lucas and freshman Bona Jones, came in 19th. The men were 16th.
Stanford, which was ranked No. 1 all season, won the women’s team championship with 195 points. Colorado finished second with 223, Michigan third with 233, and Wisconsin fourth with 262. Arkansas took fifth place with 286 points, and Texas Tech was sixth with 300.
Sophomore Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech won the women’s national championship, running the 6k course in a blistering time of 20:11.1, which was 26.8 seconds ahead of runner-up Jenny Barringer of Colorado.
The NC State women, who entered the race ranked No. 3 nationally, got outstanding races from Lucas, who finished fifth at 20:47.1, and Jones, who came in 26th at 21:17.0. Lucas and Jones both earned All-America honors. Jones is the 10th NC State freshman to earn All-America, the ninth on the women’s side. Jones was one of just two freshmen to earn All-America honors this season.
The Wolfpack ran into trouble directly behind Lucas and Jones. Sophomore Brittany Tinsley got sick during the race and and finished near the back of the pack. Sophomore Amy Kelly was the Wolfpack’s third runner, finishing 131st overall and scoring 99 points with a time of 22:23.2. Junior Angelina Blackmon (22:39.5) was 167th and scored 133 points, and junior Anne Wheatly (23:09.9) rounded out the scoring for NC State, finishing 205th and scoring 169 points.
The men continues their season-long trend of running in a tightly bunched group, but unlike at the ACC Championships or the NCAA Southeast Regionals, they did not penetrate nearly close enough to the front of the pack to score well. Tibor Vegh (32:33.3) led the Wolfpack, but finished just 94th overall, scoring 67 team points. Stephen Furst (32:41.8) was 110th overall and scored 81 team points. John Crews was right behind Furst, finishing 114th in a time of 34:42.9. He scored 85 points.
Gavin Coombs (32:56.5) was next for the Wolfpack, finishing 138th and scoring 104 points. Bryce Ruiz (33:13.4) rounded out the scoring for NC State, finishing 167th overall and scoring 132 team points. Ruiz is a senior, Coombs a sophomore. Vegh, Crews and Furst at juniors.
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