Cross Country Set for Stanford Invitational
September 23, 2005 | Cross Country
Sept. 23, 2005
Lubbock, Texas - The Texas Tech cross country team is heading to Stanford, Calif., the home of Stanford University, to compete in the 32nd annual Stanford Invitational on Saturday. The women will be competing in the 6K scored event, set to begin at 7:15 p.m. The men's squad will be split between the 4K scored race (4:55 p.m.) and the 8K scored race (5:45 p.m.).
Last time out, the Texas Tech cross country team competed at the Lobo Invite, on the campus of the University of New Mexico. The women's squad finished in fifth place and the men's squad earned a sixth-place team finish.
Leading the way for the women was Violet Chemakwila who clocked a time of 22:12 in the 6K race and earned a third-place finish. Irene Kimaiyo finished in 14th place with her time of 23:08. Asia Diaz rounded out the Tech top three with her time of 23:46, good for a 26th-place finish.
Kevin Chelimo led the way for the Red Raider men with a 10th-place finish and a clocking of 25:19 in the 8K race. Benson Cheserek was the second Tech finisher at 14th place with a time of 25:45. Pedro Vargas rounded out the top three with a 46th-place finish and a time of 27:35.
The two-time NCAA team champion Stanford Cardinal highlight the women's collegiate fields. The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos are expected to challenge the Cardinal. The Gauchos finished 17th at last year's NCAA championships. Cal Poly claimed ninth in the West Regional. The University of Portland is the defending West Coast Conference champion. The University of British Columbia is seated at second in the NAIA rankings, while Azusa Pacific is ranked seventh.
The collegiate men's field features two teams that finished in the top ten at last year's NCAA Championships - the host Stanford University and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The Stanford Cardinal, sixth at the last fall's collegiate championships, have won four NCAA team titles in the last decade and eight of the last nine Pac-10 crowns. Last year, the Cal Poly Mustangs claimed their fifth Big West title in the last seven years on the way to finishing tenth in Terre Haute at the NCAA meet. The University of Portland Pilots claimed fifth at the West Regional and won their 26th consecutive West Coast Conference title. Azusa Pacific and the University of British Columbia are ranked fourth and fifth respectively in the NAIA rankings.
For complete results of the Stanford Invitational, visit www.gostanford.com or www.texastech.com.
Players Mentioned
