Nukuri Places Fourth, Hawkeyes Finish in Top Ten

Nukuri Places Fourth, Hawkeyes Finish in Top Ten

Nov. 19, 2007

TERRE HAUTE, IN–University of Iowa senior cross country star Diane Nukuri has repeated as an All-American. She led the Hawkeyes to a tenth place NCAA finish Monday. She finished fourth overall with a 6,000-meter time of 20:07 at the NCAA Division I National Championship on the Lavern Gibson Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, IN.

Nukuri was one of 255 competitors and Iowa was one of 31 teams. Texas Tech junior Sally Kipyego repeated as national champion in 19:30.9. Last season Nukuri placed seventh with a time of 21:06 and the Hawkeyes placed 17th as a team.

Senior Meghan Armstrong (13th, 20:37), sophomore Jolly Burke (34th, 21:09), senior Jessica Schmidt (156th, 22:20), freshman Lauren Hardesty (180th, 22:40), senior Molly Esche (192nd, 22:59) and freshman Amanda Hardesty (211th, 23:37) also ran for Iowa. Armstrong received her third all-America honor.

“Obviously I am very excited with today’s results,” said Head Coach Layne Anderson. “On a perfect day, I thought we could finish in the 10-12 range, and we did. This is a sign of a very good day and was a great way to finish up an excellent season. We are looking forward to keep improving and another outstanding nationals performance a year from now.”


WOMEN’S TEAM RESULTS (TOP TEN)

1. Stanford 145 points
2. Oregon 177 points
3. Florida State 236 points
4. Arizona State 251 points
5. Michigan State 321 points
6. Illinois 331 points
7. Northern Arizona 357 points
8. Washington 358 points
9. West Virginia 375 points
10. IOWA 387 points

WOMEN’S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
(TOP FIVE PLUS IOWA)

1.Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech) 19:30
2. Jenny Barringer (Colorado) 19:47
3. Susan Kuijken(Florida State) 20:07
4. Diane Nukuri (IOWA) 20:07
5. Nicole Bush(Michigan State) 20:13
13. Meghan Armstrong (IOWA) 20:37
34. Jolly Burke (IOWA) 21:09
156. Jessica Schmidt (IOWA) 22:20
180. Lauren Hardesty (IOWA) 22:40
192. Molly Esche (IOWA) 22:59
211. Amanda Hardesty (IOWA) 23:37

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