Cross Country Wins Three Duals At Alumni Open
09/04/2004 | Cross Country
Sept. 4, 2004
Complete Results | Photo Gallery
UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - The University of Richmond cross country teams opened the 2004 season by winning three of four duals at the Spider Alumni Open at St. Catherine's Fields in Richmond, Saturday morning.
The women's squad, picked to repeat as Atlantic 10 Champions, topped VCU in 2 mile dual action, 15-51, and the Spider Alumni, 15-52, for a sweep of the day's results. On the men's side, Richmond fell, 22-34, to VCU but topped the Alumni, 25-30.
"We are really excited about the way the teams competed today," women's head coach Lori Taylor said. "This meet gives the runners a chance to compete and serves as a transition time for some of the younger runners. It can help us, as coaches, see who can lay it all out there in competition."
Junior John Ciccarelli, who recorded the best time of any current Spider (15:08.5) on the 5k course, finished just behind former Richmond athlete Kevin Rhue, for second place. Freshmen Hunter Willis (15:54.6) and Jonathan Molz (16:09.1) impressed in their first collegiate races by finishing seventh and eighth, respectively. Senior Pat Barkhuff, an NCAA Regional participant last season, finished 11th with a time of 16:17.0 and freshman Ryan Jobes rounded out the Spider top-five with a 16th place finish in 16:48.3.
The women dominated by taking the top seven spots, led by sophomore Amanda Russell's 2 mile performance of 11:04.8. Freshman Kate Merrill, who competed unattached, garnered a second place finish (11:16.4). Junior Nicole Kurtain, a 2003 A-10 first team honoree, finished in 11:22.7 for third place. Freshman Kylee Schuler, also competing unattached, came in fourth with a time of 11:29.2 while sophomore Nicole Erby rounded out the top five with a time of 11:50.6.
"I thought Amanda (Russell) ran a great race on this shorter course," Taylor said. "Nicole (Kurtain) came in third and will be counted on as one of leaders throughout the season."
Richmond returns to action in two weeks when it travels to Charlottesville, Va., for the Virginia Invitational Sept. 18. Runners will take their marks at 10 a.m.