Oct. 17, 2009
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Brandon Bethke finished sixth overall and Kari Hardt was 11th to lead the Arizona State University men’s and women’s teams, respectively, at the NCAA Pre-National Meet on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute, Ind., Saturday, the final race for the top runners on the team before the championship season gets underway.
Bethke, who placed sixth overall in the men’s 8,000m race in 23:49.4, paced the 19th-ranked Sun Devils to a sixth-place team showing as ASU scored 232 points. No. 1 Stanford (47), No. 5 Colorado (130), No. 6 BYU (163), No. 8 Portland (211) and No. 12 Iona (218) placed ahead of the Sun Devils while ASU did place better than one team ranked ahead of it as No. 18 Iowa State finished 10th overall in the men’s white race.
On the women’s side, Hart covered the 6,000m course in 20:58.8 to help the 17th-ranked Sun Devils to 10th place overall (325). No. 1 Washington (59), No. 9 Florida (89), No. 5 Princeton (126), No. 15 Syracuse (191) and No. 18 Illinois (206) rounded out the Top 5 teams in the women’s white race.
Bethke, who’s only other race this year (Notre Dame) produced a runner-up finish, led a team that placed three runners in the Top 50, including Ben Engelhardt (26th, 24:12.0) and Jeff Helmer (45th, 24:28.4). Patrick Milloy (62nd, 24:40.0) and true freshman Nick Happe (93rd, 25:01.4) rounded out the five scoring positions for the team while Dylan Hatcher (127th, 25:25.3) and Doug Smith (171st, 25:58.1) also ran for ASU.
While Hardt was the lone ASU woman to place among the Top 50 on the day, three others came across the line within 18 seconds of each other, including Lindsay Prescott (56th, 21:41.4), Angela Spadafino (67th, 21:47.4) and Anna Sperry (86th, 21:59.5). Kauren Tarver (105th, 22:12.0) was the fifth scorer for the team while Cherise McNair (120th, 22:22.7) and Kate Lydy (160th, 22:46.4) also competed in the event.
The Sun Devils will next send several members of the team to compete locally at the Mesa Thunderbird Classic, hosted by Mesa CC at Riverview Park in Mesa, on October 22 at 9 a.m. It will be the final race for the Sun Devils before traveling to Long Beach, Calif., on October 30 to compete in the Pac-10 Championships.
2009 NCAA Pre-National Meet
LaVern Gibson Championship Course - Terre Haute, Ind.
ASU Men’s Results - White Race (8,000m)
6. Brandon Bethke - 23:49.4
26. Ben Engelhardt - 24:12.0
45. Jeff Helmer - 24:28.4
62. Patrick Milloy - 24:40.0
93. Nick Happe - 25:01.4
127. Dylan Hatcher - 25:25.3
171. Doug Smith - 25:58.1
Men’s Team Scoring
1. #1 Stanford - 47
2. #5 Colorado - 130
3. #6 BYU - 163
4. #8 Portland - 211
5. #12 Iona - 218
6. #19 Arizona State - 232
ASU Women’s Results - White Race (6,000m)
11. Kari Hardt - 20:58.8
56. Lindsay Prescott - 21:41.4
67. Angela Spadafino - 21:47.4
86. Anna Sperry - 21:59.5
105. Kauren Tarver - 22:12.0
120. Cherise McNair - 22:22.7
160. Kate Lydy - 22:46.4
Women’s Team Scoring - Top 5
1. #1 Washington - 59
2. #9 Florida - 89
3. #5 Princeton - 126
4. #15 Syracuse - 191
5. #18 Illinois - 206
10. #17 Arizona State - 325