Stephen F. Austin
Lumberjack Opener
SFA Solid In Lumberjack Opener
8/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Aug. 29, 2008
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The Stephen F. Austin cross country teams opened the 2008 season Friday with a strong showing in the Lumberjack Opener. SFA runners filled up the top slots in both the men's and women's races in the relay-style format at Pecan Park.
"It was a good opener," SFA coach Lou Snelling said. "This was exactly what we were looking for at this point in the season. We've got a lot of fit people right now, which is exciting."
The team of Mitch Ownbey and Elliot Starcevich won the men's race, completing the 12,000-meter course in a total time of 39:39.05. Keith Mahipala and Logan Smart chased them home with a time of 39:40.94, and James Lopez, running solo with equal rest periods, posted a fourth-place time of 39:56.33.
Lumberjacks Dennis Yeats and Xavier Rodriguez ran unattached, as did Harmon McClanahan and Adam Saloom. Yeats and Rodriguez finished third, clocking in at 39:50.61, while McClanahan and Saloom crossed at 39:56.41.
In the women's 8,000-meter race, Amy Shackelford teamed with Marie Flores to win in 30:58.28. Brittainy Robertson and Megan Jenkins partnered for a second-place time of 31:04.04. Stephanie Ganter and Meredith Blocker were fourth with a time of 31:09.48. Randi Wymer ran solo and was unattached, posting a third-place time of 31:04.99. Brette Fleming-Wood raced in uniform, but ran with the opening leg of the race, and a split for her performance was not available.
"On both sides, the group is what stood out, rather than individuals," Snelling said. "We had a lot of good pack running in both races. I was really happy with how we did across the board."
SFA will not race again competitively until the Rice Invitational in Houston on Sept. 20.
-- SFA --
