Sept. 5, 2009
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The 2009 cross country season got underway for Arizona State University on Saturday afternoon with the Sun Devils competing in the 29th George Kyte Invitational, which was held at Buffalo Park in Flagstaff, Ariz. The ASU men finished third overall and the women were fourth as host Northern Arizona swept both team titles.
The Sun Devil women accumulated 81 points in the team scoring to finish fourth overall with the Lumberjacks taking the title (35 points), Arizona (65) taking second and Central Arizona (74) finishing third. On the men's side, NAU captured the crown with 24 points and was followed in the standings by UA (56), the Sun Devils (66) and CAC (118).
In the women's 5,000m run, the Sun Devils sent three redshirt freshmen to the starting line for their first collegiate races in an ASU uniform with all three placing among the Top 20 overall, including Natasa Vulic, the team's top finisher. Vulic placed sixth overall in 18:11.8 and was followed across the line by sophomore Maureen Stringham, who finished seventh in 18:12.7. The remaining two rookies came in next with Catherine Loden taking 16th place in 18:37.0 and Kate Lydy finishing 19th in 19:02.8. Senior Rebecca Greenwald rounded out the five women in the race for the Sun Devils and placed 58th in 22:37.3.
Six men toed the start line for the 8,000m race with four of those Sun Devils wearing the ASU uniform for the first time on the cross country course. Junior Collin Eckelman led the charge for ASU as he was one of four to finish in the Top 25, running 26:18.7 to place 11th overall. Redshirt freshman Matt Boughton was 19th overall in 26:50.2 before sophomore Cameron Liston, who was competing for ASU for the first time after transferring from NAU, took 22nd in 26:56.0. Sophomore Daniel Lovell rounded out the Top 25 finishers by taking 24th in 27:02.3 before redshirt freshman Mason McHenry took 27th in 27:31.0 to round out the five scoring runners for the team. Redshirt freshman Ben Jankunas also competed in the event, taking 39th in 28:41.2.
The Sun Devils will take a week off from competition before traveling to the south on Friday, September 18, when they will run in the Dave Murray Invitational in Tucson. Rival Arizona will play host to the event at the Dell Urich Golf Course near campus.
2009 George Kyte Invitational
Buffalo Park - Flagstaff, Ariz.
ASU Results - Women's 5k
6. Natasa Vulic - 18:11.8
7. Maureen Stringham - 18:12.7
16. Catherine Loden - 18:37.0
19. Kate Lydy - 19:02.8
58. Rebecca Greenwald - 22:37.3
Women's Team Scoring - Top 5
1. Northern Arizona - 35
2. Arizona - 65
3. Central Arizona - 74
4. Arizona State `B' - 81
5. Mesa CC - 144
ASU Results - Men's 8k
11. Collin Eckelman - 26:18.7
19. Matt Boughton - 26:50.2
22. Cameron Liston - 26:56.0
24. Daniel Lovell - 27:02.3
27. Mason McHenry - 27:31.0
39. Ben Jankunas - 28:41.2
Men's Team Scoring - Top 5
1. Northern Arizona - 24
2. Arizona - 56
3. Arizona State `B' - 66
4. Central Arizona - 118
5. Pima CC - 148