Convincing Victory for Cougars

EAGLE -- In the final preparatory competition for the season’s first major meet next weekend in Wisconsin, the BYU women’s cross country team earned a solid victory at the Bob Firman Invitational in Eagle, Idaho.

The Cougars came in first place with 28 points as sophomore Katy Andrews led the way with a first-place individual finish. She finished the 5K race in 17 minutes, 59 seconds, a new course record at Eagle Island State Park.

“It was a great victory for the team and for Katy,” said BYU women’s cross country head coach Patrick Shane. “The team ran well together today and earned a convincing win. I’m happy for Katy for hanging in there until the end.”

Trailing with about 700 meters to go, Andrews took charge on the downside of a hill and was able to overcome Boise State’s Shannon Porter with a final surge.

“Our approach was to go conservatively at the beginning of the race and that worked well for us,” Andrews said. “The course was a lot of fun today with the nice weather and good running conditions. At one point I looked back at my teammates behind me and smiled. I had just enough energy at the end to give a little more and pull ahead.”

Coming in second for the team and fourth overall was redshirt freshman Ashlee Thomas (18:15), followed by Rachel Lange in sixth (18:18), Lacey Cramer (7th, 18:21), Sarah Yingling (18:32,11th). Sarah Frey (14th), Michaelanne Laurent (18:49, 16th), Katie Swanson (18:50, 17th), and Nicole Nielsen (18:50, 18th). Freshman Lisa Drury, an Eagle, Idaho native, ran unattached and earned an eighth-place finish in 18:26.

Also running unattached were freshmen Candace Eddy, Michelle Callister, and Loren Wynn. Millie Rapp, Nichole Clark, Lindsey Sowards, Kathryn Vidmar, and Kendy Christensen also competed well for the team.

“It was an out-of-the-park day for Ashlee this morning,” Shane said. “She had a career day and ran great. Lisa Drury also did very well with almost a minute-and-a-half better 5K time than she had last season and will no longer redshirt this season.”

Idaho State came in second place with 44 points, followed by Boise State (86), Northwest Nazarene (100), Utah (101) and Central Washington (171).

Results from the meet can be found on the Boise State Athletics Web site.

2009 Bob Firman Invitational
1   K. Andrews             17:59.34
4   A. Thomas              18:15.42
6   R. Lange               18:18.62
7   L. Cramer              18:21.18
11  S. Yingling            18:32.38
14  S. Frey                18:44.39
16  M. Laurent             18:49.42
17  K. Swanson             18:50.23
18  N. Nielsen             18:50.29
20  M. Rapp                19:03.49
23  N. Clark               19:10.68
25  L. Sowards             19:19.90
31  K. Vidmar              19:31.74
54  K. Christensen         20:47.09
Unattached BYU runners
8   L. Drury               18:26.47
13  C. Eddy                18:43.14
15  M. Callister           18:48.33
29  L. Wynn                19:26.53