Nov. 24, 2008
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TERRE HAUTE, IN — Hawkeye senior Racheal Marchand broke the 20-minute mark in a 6,000-meter cross country race for the first time in her career, placing fifth in 19:54.9 at the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, IN, Monday. Marchand, who earned all-America honors with her finish, led the Hawkeye women’s team to a 24th place-finish at the national meet. Hawkeye junior Jesse Luciano, who was the lone competitor for the Hawkeye men’s team, placed 43rd with a collegiate-best 30:17.8 in the men’s 10,000-meter race.
The Washington women’s squad won its first team title in school history, scoring 79 points, and Texas Tech senior Sally Kipyego won her third NCAA individual title in 19:28.1. The Oregon men’s team – led by race winner Galen Rupp (29:03.2) – won its second straight team title, scoring 93 points.
“It was a very solid day for us,” said Head Women’s Coach Layne Anderson. “We were ranked 23rd coming into the race and finished 24th, so we ran right around our ranking. It was a tight team race as only nine points separated the 21st thru 25th-place finishers. Racheal’s individual performance was remarkable and outstanding.”
Marchand, who was named 2008 Midwest Regional Female Athlete of the Year last week, knocked 27 seconds off her previous collegiate best in the NCAA race to earn her second all-America honor. She is Iowa’s 14th all-American and the fourth Hawkeye to earn multiple all-America honors. Her time of 19:54.9 ranks second in school history.
Graduate student Sarah Spencer Perry was Iowa’s second finisher, placing 121st in 21:20.4 Junior Hannah Roeder was the third Hawkeye in, placing 158th with a collegiate-best 21:39.6. Also running for Iowa were true freshmen Brooke Eilers (190th-21:52.3) and Betsy Flood (194th-21:55.4), sophomore Amanda Hardesty (210th-22:06.0) and junior Fionna Fallon (227th-22:30.2). Of Iowa’s seven NCAA competitors, five will return for the 2009 season.
“Jesse had a terrific performance,” explained Head Men’s Coach Larry Wieczorek. “He felt like he laid it all out and ran the best race of his career. While he was disappointed about not finishing the in the top 40 to earn all-America honors, he beat a lot of outstanding competitors.”
The Iowa distance runners will now turn their attention to the 2009 track and field season. The team will host its annual co-ed intrasquad meet Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. at the University of Iowa Recreation Building.
Women’s Team Results (Top 10 Plus Iowa)
1. Washington 79
2. Oregon 131
3. Florida State 163
4. West Virginia 198
5. Princeton 220
6. Villanova 248
7. Texas Tech 272
8. Stanford 299
9. Georgetown 305
10. Illinois 318
24. Iowa 538
Women’s Individual Results (Top Five Plus Iowa)
1. Sally Kipyego (Texas Tech) 19:28.1
2. Susan Kuijken (Florida St.) 19:34.9
3. Tasmin Fanning (Virginia Tech) 19:37.1
4. Brianna Felnagle (N. Carolina) 19:53.3
5. Racheal Marchand (Iowa) 19:54.9
121. Sarah Spencer Perry (Iowa) 21:20.4
158. Hannah Roeder (Iowa) 21:39.6
190. Brooke Eilers (Iowa) 21:52.3
194. Besty Flood (Iowa) 21:55.4
210. Amanda Hardesty (Iowa) 22:06.0
227. Fionna Fallon (Iowa) 22:30.2
Men’s Individual Results (Top Five Plus Iowa)
1. Galen Rupp (Oregon) 29:03.2
2. Samuel Chelanga (Liberty) 29:08.0
3. Andrew Ledwith (Iona) 29:25.4
4. David Kinsella (Portland) 29:26.5
5. Luke Puskedra (Oregon) 29:27.8
43. Jesse Luciano (Iowa) 30:17.8
Complete NCAA Women’s Individual Results in PDF Format