KANE`OHE, Hawai`i -- Five BYU runners claimed the Nos. 2-6 spots as the women's cross country team ran to a first-place finish at the Big Wave Invitational on Saturday in Hawai`i.

"I'm very pleased with how they ran," BYU coach Patrick Shane said. "We ran together as a group very well today. I feel like we accomplished the goals we set for the week."

Despite traveling with a limited squad to Hawai`i to rest for the Bill Dellinger Invitational next weekend, the Cougars scored 20 points, defeating San Diego State (64), Hawai`i (117), Hawai`i-Hilo (125), BYU-Hawai`i (134), Saint Mary's (162), Hawai`i Pacific (164) and Chaminade (268).

BYU's top runner, Cecily Lemmon, a redshirt freshman from Vacaville, Calif., finished in second place in 14:39 behind Hawai`i runner Chantele Wilder at 14:34.

"Cecily Lemmon ran quite well considering the fact that she was sick all week," Shane said.

Lemmon felt rested because she was forced to stay inside and sleep much the day before the race. She also credited her team's ability to stay together throughout the race.

"It made all the difference," Lemon said of her team's bunch running style. "I know that if I hadn't had the support of the team, my race wouldn't have ended up like it did."

The Cougars will look to continue their winning ways as they head to one of the most competitive races of the season in Oregon. The Bill Dellinger Invitational will be held on Saturday, Sept. 29.

"It's a very competitive meet and the level of competition will be exceptionally high," Shane said. "By beating ranked teams we would enhance our chances of qualifying for nationals."

Big Wave Cross Country Invitational
Saturday Sept. 22 2007
Klipper Golf Course
Kaneohe, Oahu Hawai`i
Women's 4K
1st  BYU Provo        20
2nd  SDSU             60
3rd  Hawai`i-Manoa   104
4th  BYU Hawai`i     119
5th  Hawai`i-Hilo    125
6th  St. Mary's      137
7th  Hawai`i-Pacific 141
Place Name, Team, Points, Team, Place, Time
1st   Chatelle Wilder, UH Manoa, 1, 1, 14:34
2nd   Cecily Lemmon, BYU Provo, 2, 1, 14:39
3rd   Anna Sperry, BYU Provo, 3, 2, 14:44
4th   Tawny Bybee, BYU Provo, 4, 3, 14:48
5th   Wendy Harris, BYU Provo, 5, 4, 15:00
6th   Carolyn Quebe, BYU Provo, 6, 5, 15:02
7th   Carlee Clark-Platt, BYU Provo, 7, 6, 15:07
8th   Lisa Naucler, SDSU, 8, 1, 15:13
9th   Heidi Houle, BYU, Provo, 9, 7, 15:19
10th  Karrie Hagedorn, St. Mary's, 10, 1, 15:23
11th  Jessica Hauser, BYU Provo, 0, 8, 15:28

PROVO, Utah (Sep. 18,2007) -- The No. 23 women's cross country team looks to improve on its second-place finish at home two weeks ago as they travel to Honolulu for the Big Wave Invitational on Saturday.

The four-kilometer race will start at 7:50 a.m. HST at Kaneohe Kipper Golf Course.

In preparation for Oregon's Bill Dellinger Invitational in two weeks, the team will travel with a limited squad to the Big Wave Invitational.

The Cougars will be running without Angela Wagner, Katie Bowen, Jenna Jensen, Amy Fowler Layne and Amber Duffin, their top five runners.

"We're working really hard right now to get ready for Oregon, and they need to train so hard this week that traveling to Hawai`i wouldn't be congruent with success in two weeks," BYU coach Patrick Shane said.

Shane still expects his team to run well in Hawai`i.

"I think it's going to require them to put forth a maximum effort in the race, but I still feel we can show well in the race," he said.

Junior Tawnee Bybee will be joined by freshmen Cecily Lemmon and Anna Sperry in Hawai`i. Bybee, Lemmon and Sperry finished in the top 20 at the BYU Autumn Classic two weeks ago. With a time of 18:16.5 in the five-kilometer race, Lemmon led the group of three runners.

The women's team traveled to Hawai`i two years ago, winning the meet with a perfect score of 15 points. Jenna Jensen, who won't be making the trip this year, placed fourth in that race.