Michigan State University
William & Mary Inter-Regional
Spartan Women Win Colonial Inter-Regional; Men Second
9/27/2008 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Sept. 27, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State cross country teams continued its early season success this morning at the Colonial Inter-Regional, hosted by the College of William & Mary. The Spartans took home the women's title, while the men placed second. Individually, MSU had 11 top-10 finishes combined in the two races, highlighted by a first-place finish by senior Lisa Senakiewich, her first career cross country title, on the women's side.
"We were really pleased with how both teams raced today," said Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Walt Drenth. "To finish with 19 points on the women's side was a great number. Carlie (Green), Tiffany (Abrahamian) and Rebekah (Smeltzer) stepped up and continue to make great progress in their first season.
"The men are coming into their own. We are pleased with how they competed and how they took another step forward. William & Mary is one of the top teams in the country, but we had them on the ropes today. William & Mary had success up front, but our depth was key to stay on their tails."
Senakiewich, who ran 21:03.1 in the 6k race, led a trio of Spartans who swept the top-three finishes for the women. Senakiewich and classmate Nicole Bush were clear ahead of the field, as Bush finished in a time of 21:08.2. Fellow senior Sarah Price was the only other runner under 22 minutes on the day, posting a time of 21:31.8.
Freshman Carlie Green continued a string of top-10 finishes to begin her collegiate career, placing fourth at 22:06.2. The Spartans also occupied the eighth to 11th positions today. Freshman Tiffany Abrahamian led the tight group (22:20.2), followed by sophomore Emily MacLeod (22:224), senior Laura Portis (22:22.7) and freshman Rebekah Smeltzer (22:23.7).
The MSU women had 19 points to top host William & Mary, who came in with 42 points.
On the men's side, sophomore Spencer Beatty led the way for the second-straight race this season. Beatty crossed fifth with a time of 25:10.7 in the 8k race.
Similar to the women's race, the Spartans finished in a bunch, taking the eighth to 12th spots. Freshman Joe Dimambro (25:18.0) and junior Max Goldak (25:18.8) finished less than a second apart to take eighth and ninth. It was Dimambro's third top-10 finish in as many races to begin his collegiate career. Junior Shane Knoll had his second-straight top-10 finish, crossing in 25:24.4 for 10th. Senior Adam Sprangel (25:25.8) and sophomore Pat Grosskopf (25:28.9) rounded out the Spartan pack, finishing 11th and 12th, respectively.
The Tribe took the men's title with 32 points, with the Spartans close behind with 39 points.
"The weather was not what we have been used to so far this season, but we handled it well" added Drenth. "There was high humidity and temperatures, without any wind, unlike our training conditions in Michigan."
The Michigan State cross country teams return to action this week with the Notre Dame Invitational on Friday, Oct. 3.
Players Mentioned
