Women Place Ninth At Pre Nationals
As the pre nationals has grown in size and stature the fields have swollen to the point that nearly every top team, near top team, and any team with hopes of joining those ranks compete at the event. This year's version was run in two even fields of 38 teams, while a follow up race of 25 more teams concluded the 100+ team extravaganza. Our B.U. women ran in the first of the races, battling to a ninth place finish, again showing their rightful claim to be in the top twenty teams in the nation.
The race was staged over the grassy links of the university golf course. It was humid, but some cloud cover helped modify the effects of the warm air. The field of 240 squeezed onto a tight starting line that necessitated four runners from each team starting on the second row. With the usual collection of All Americans and former high school state champions and Footlocker finalists on hand, Sherida Bird led the Terriers home in 44th. place, with Rachel Felton 51, Jennifer Kehoe 66, Kathryn Ireland 70, and Bolpar Vinh 72, formed our block of five scorers. Lauren Matthews 112 and Dina Mijuskovic 134 rounded out our finishers in the seeded race, while Emily Hawkins placed 30th. in the non seeded event that followed.
The women's team has been performing with consistency and solid pack running. We've had three different runners as our first finisher in the three races that we've contested thus far. As the teams looks forward to the up coming America East conference championship to be held in Orono, Maine, on October 27, it hopes to defend the title won last year in Delaware.