Oct. 15, 1997
Sun Devils Host the 1997 ASU Cross Country Invitational
Friday, October 17, at Freestone Park in Gilbert, Ariz. Twenty collegiate squads will participate, nine from the Division I ranks including defending national champion Stanford. The first of three races, the open race, is at 3:45 with the championship invitationals at 4:30 (women) and 5:00 (men).
Open Race: 3:45 p.m. Women's Invitational: 4:30 p.m. Men's Invitational: 5:00 p.m. How to get there? Take Hwy 60 East Exit at Gilbert Rd, right on Gilbert Left on Guadalupe Right on Lindsay, Go 1/2 mile to Freestone Park on left Results Will Be Available on Faxback
Youth is Served at ASU The Sun Devils are a fountain of youth in 1997 as second-year head coach Walt Drenth attempts to rebuild the program. ASU has run in three meets this season as the men have two top-five finishes while the women have turned in two top-six results. Twenty-two (11 men and 11 women) of the 34 roster member on the 1997 squad are newcomers.
Clear-Cut Leaders Ari Rodriguez and Mary Duerbeck are the two Sun Devils to watch on the course. Rodriguez (Tempe - Corna del Sol) returned to competition for his senior season after redshirting a year ago. He has been ASU's top finisher in all three meets and finished in the Top 20 each time. Duerbeck has been the Sun Devils' frontrunner in each ASU's three meets as well, also with three top-20 finishes.
The Field Stanford is the obvious favorite of the meet as the Cardinal won both the men's and women's NCAA title in 1996, the first dual champion since 1985. The twenty participants, by Division:
Division I Arizona State Cal State Northridge UC Santa Barbara (men only) UNLV (women only) New Mexico New Mexico State Northern Arizona Stanford Wyoming
Division II Abilene Christian Grand Canyon
JC Central Arizona Dine (men only) Mesa Paradise Valley Phoenix Pima South Mountain Southern Idaho Yavupai (women)