Men's 6-K Results
Women's 4-K Results
EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Evansville cross country coach Don Walters has stressed a pack mentality with both his men’s and women’s teams this year. On Saturday, his teams responded, as both the UE men and women placed their top five runners within 35 seconds of one another in the season-opening Mid-America Opener at the UE Cross Country Course in Evansville.
The pack mentality helped the UE men finish second in the eight-team field, behind just Big East power Louisville, which finished ninth in the country in 2007. The UE women, meanwhile, finished fifth overall in the eight-team meet with UE’s top six runners setting new personal-best times in the 4-K event.
“Overall, I was really please with how we ran today,” said Walters. “I really thought that the men ran an excellent race, as we were able to have a nice, tight pack up towards the front of the race. I thought that the women ran well as well, especially considering we had six true freshmen competing in their collegiate race today.
“This was a solid start to the season. Obviously, we still have a lot a work to do to get to where we want to be at the end of the year, but this was a good start for both teams.”
On the men’s side, junior Greg Pulscher paced a pack of five Purple Aces in the top 20 by placing 11th overall in the 79-competitor field in a 6-K time of 19:17.40. Fellow junior Brian Joyce and sophomore Ryan Witters were not far behind, placing 14th and 15th overall in times of 19:33.45 and 19:35.91. Sophomores Brian Denny (19:40.76) and Nicholas Tyree (19:49.76) rounded out UE’s scoring pack by placing 17th and 19th overall. Louisville’s Scott McClain edged UE alum Nick Waninger by six seconds to take home the individual title in a time of 18:12.11 and lead Louisville to the overall team title.
On the women’s side, junior Courtney Heller led UE’s pack with a 20th-place finish in a personal-best 4K time of 16:19.43. Sophomore Melissa Truex (24th-16:30.50) and senior Franny Enzler (25th-16:36.88) followed shortly thereafter for UE, while true freshman Lauren Schaftlein (28th-16:45.59) and senior Megan Bowlds (29th-16:47.51) rounded out UE’s scoring pack in personal-best times. Louisville’s Tarah McKay defended her individual title by cruising to the overall title in a time of 14:27.59.
Evansville will continue the 2008 cross country season next Saturday, as the Purple Aces will travel to the 2008 Queen City Invitational in Alexandria, Kentucky outside of Cincinnati, Ohio.
