Lones, Horseman pace Cross Country

It was 108 degrees on the long road to Tempe, Ariz., but the GCSU men’s and women’s cross-country teams made it to the ASU Invitational, hosted by Arizona State University.

After traveling their longest road trip of the year, the Bobcats showed up ready to compete on the intense 5K course. It was the first night meet for many of the runners and ASU made it a memorable one.

The race was covered in multi-colored lights, music to run with and tables set up with drinks and snacks along the way. The three-hour time difference and heat weighed little on the women’s team, who took second place at the invitational with three runners finishing in the top twenty-five.

Lones

For her second race in a row, freshman Allison Lones led the Bobcats in 20:45 for a 10th place finish out of 47, a second shy of her personal best last weekend. Lones, who seemed unlike herself in her first race, has turned it around with determination.

“Working hard at practice put me back at the top of the pack,” Lones said. “In high school and even earlier this year, I would take the day off after a race. Now I’ll take a long run.”

Lones likes to pace herself after the first mile and then begins to pick her opponents off. This is the intensity head coach Joe Samprone expects from his runners.

“I am very excited about this year so far,” Samprone said. “But I am even more excited that we are only losing two seniors. To have these runners returning is great for next year.”

Aside from their future accomplishments, the rookie runners are making it easier on the veterans. Senior Dani Destiche, usually a top runner, is enduring a foot injury at the time. Though she still raced, finishing in 21:44 and taking 25th place, the trainer said she will be sitting out for some time. Lones and other freshmen make it easier for the veterans to recover while continuing good numbers.

Seconds behind Lones were juniors Karissa Ekstrom, who finished in 20:48 – taking 13th place, and Sarah Balkcom, finishing in 21:04 and taking 18th place.

Just out of the top 20 was freshman Andrea Byrnes, who took 24th in 21:41. Two Division II teams fell to the Bobcats, Grand Canyon University and Western New Mexico University. The Lady Bobcats racked up 52 team points, only beaten by ASU’s 15 points. Individually running, the University of Arizona’s Erin Menefee won the race in 17:26.

The men’s team embraced the Friday night heat as well, taking third place. Four of the five men’s runners are in their first year at GCSU. Three rookie runners all placed in the top 50 of the meet, led by some solid veterans.

For the third time this season, junior Daniel Horseman led the Bobcats in 16:06, a time that was one minute and ten seconds better than his last 5K course. Destroying his last time did not come with ease. Horseman spent his summer working at a summer camp where he trained on large hills and practiced running barefoot, a technique which allows for a natural motion on the foot, taking pressure of the ankle and knee.

“This was my first summer where my knee hasn’t been injured,” Horseman said.

A healthy body and motivated mind, he is ready for the optimistic future.

“One of my goals is to be team captain next year,” he said.

Junior Tyler Mattix came in close behind Horseman with 16:27, finishing 28th overall. Close on his heels, finishing one place behind was freshman Zack Robinson in 16:30. Another one of the three freshman runners, Philip Laskey, came in at 33rd with 16:40. The only men’s senior, Tim Cary, finished at 42nd in 17:16, while Tucker Forbes rounded it off in 17:39 finishing 50th. The University of Arizona men’s team took first in the team title with 18 points. Second place went to Division II Western New Mexico University with 95 points, while the Bobcats earned a respectable third with 97 points. The Bobcats are back at it Oct. 16 at the Young Harris Invitational.

Posted by Taylor Lamb on Oct 8 2010. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.