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Sept. 6, 2008

 

Abilene, Texas - The West Texas A&M women's cross country team won the overall team championship at the Abilene Christian Cross Country Classic, held Saturday morning on the Sherrod Park course in Abilene, Texas. The Lady Buffs' defeated, among others, number-seven ranked and nine-time defending Lone Star Conference champion Abilene Christian, as well as LSC-member Eastern New Mexico.

Jeniffer Cherono (Junior, Iten, Kenya) led the Lady Buffs individually, with a third-place finish and a time of 18:19.07 over the three-mile course. Kristie Hartsfield (Junior, Perryton, Texas) placed fifth (19:44.85), Belinda Castanon (Senior, El Paso, Texas) was 11th overall (20:26.32), Allie Reyna (Freshman, Ralls, Texas) fell during the event, but regrouped to finish 12th (20:32.71), Becca Rapstine (Sophomore, White Deer, Texas) finished 14th (20:50.06) and Tara Shields (Freshman, Spearman, Texas) placed 17th overall with a time of 21:10.40

ACU's Winrose Karunde took the overall individual win with a time of 17:46.69.

"Our team was anxious to actually compete," said Lady Buff head coach Kimberly Dudley, referencing the fact that last weekend's home meet was rained out. "I could feel their momentum build throughout the week. They were focused and ready to compete as a team. "Becca (Rapstein) had been ill most of the past week, but she really came through with a strong performance. Allie (Reyna) fell, and that really takes a lot out of a runner, emotionally. But she got up and didn't let it get her down. I was also impressed with the way Tara (Sheilds) ran. She's a walk-on, but showed she can compete at this level.

The Lady Buffs return to action on Sept. 27, when they compete in the Incarnate Word Invitational in San Antonio, Texas.

TEAM RESULTS: 1. WTAMU 40, 2. Abilene Christian 49, 3. Lubbock Christian 50, 4. Eastern New Mexico 87, 5. Odessa College 129, 6. Hardin-Simmons 163.