Sept. 16, 2005
TUCSON, Ariz. - The Arizona State University cross country teams headed south to Tucson Friday afternoon to compete in the Dave Murray Invitational at the Dell Urich Golf Course and returned to Tempe not only with experience, but another victory as well. For the second meet in a row this season, the women's race was won by a Sun Devil, this time coming on the course that will be used later this year for the 2005 Pac-10 Cross Country Championships.
ASU was represented by four women and five men in the non-scoring meet while several student-athletes on the roster competing unattached. On the women's side, sophomore Brooke Bennett (Eagar, Ariz.) recorded the first victory of her career as she covered the 6,000m course in 22:23 to capture gold and was followed across the line by race runner-up Whitney Hardt (Fr., Queen Creek, Ariz.) at 22:46. Jenna Wrieden (Jr., Glendale, Ariz.), who won the George Kyte Invitational in Flagstaff two weeks ago, placed 13th at 23:58 while Chelsea Caloia (Fr., Phoenix, Ariz.) rounded the Sun Devils' representation in 29th at 26:20.
With two individual victories this season, the Sun Devil women have made it three years in a row with multiple crowns and just the fourth time since 1983. The past two seasons, Amy Hastings (Sr., Leavenworth, Kan.) won a pair of meets, claiming the Dave Murray Invitational both years while adding the 2003 Arizona State Invitational and the 2004 Pac-10 Championship.
On the men's side, Kal Clark (Jr., Peewee Valley, Ky.) paced the Sun Devils with his 11th place finish, running the 8,000m course in 26:23. He was followed by David Gott (Fr., Marion, Iowa) in 13th at 26:36, Kent Henry (Fr., Pleasant Hill, Calif.) in 22nd at 27:33, Eric Dall (Jr., Scottsdale, Ariz.) in 27th at 28:17 and Griffin Lee (Sr., Shawnee, Kan.) in 33rd at 28:38.
ASU returns to the road next weekend for its first meet outside of the Grand Canyon State as it heads to Minneapolis, Minn., and the Les Bolstad Golf Course for the annual Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday morning.