Huskers Place First and Second at Woody Greeno Meet

Lincoln -- On Saturday the Nebraska mens and womens cross country teams hosted the 10th Annual Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational at Pioneers Park. Over 545 athletes from 29 schools participated in the event which featured top runners from Kansas State.

The men tied for the team title with the US Air Force Academy (41 points). NU has won the team title four of the last five years. Junior Marcus Witter (Kearney, Neb.) was NUs top finisher, taking fifth-place in 25:33.94. Kansas States Jean-Paul Niyongabo won the event in 25:04.65.

Head Coach Jay Dirksen said he was pleased with the way Witter approached the race.

He ran a much more controlled race this year, Dirksen said. He looked better this year than last.

Helping Witter was Aaron Carrizales (Morrill, Neb.), who finished 22nd in 26:29.11 and Mike Kamm, who took 24th in 26:39.50. Other Husker finishers included Jed Barta (36th, 26:59.98), Jared Carlson (27:01.45), James DeBruhl (39th, 27:03.77), Phillip Davis (40th, 27:05.75), Todd Tripple (64th, 27:40.10) and Hunter Kosman (72, 27:49.11).

The women were unable to defend their team title, placing second to 15th-ranked Kansas State, who took the top four places. However two Huskers did place in the top-10. Michelle Brooks (Preston, England) took fifth-place in the womens 5,000-meter run with at time of 18:05.77, while Jaime Pauli (Milbank, S.D.) finished seventh (18:12.21). Jeannette Zimmer (Port Orchard, Wash.) finished in 13th-place followed closely by Kathryn Handrup who took 15th (18:32.9). Melinda Oliver (17th, 18:43) and Jaimie Kruger (18th, 18:44) also earned top-20 finishes.

Dirksen said he was pleasantly surprised with how well Handrup ran.

I didnt expect her to be that stong right now, he said.

The event was won by Kansas State freshman Amy Mortimer in a time of 17:36.91, which ranks 15th on the all-time finishers list for the Pioneers Park course.

Dirksen said the Kansas State team was stronger than he expected.

They were better than I thought theyd be, he said. I wouldnt be surprised if theyre a top-10 team.

Other Huskers finishers included Amie Finkner (26th, 19:05.85), Jenna Lucas (31st, 19:28.21), Deb Osteen ( 59th, 19:53.77), Christy Linnell (92nd, 20:38.98), Steph Stewart (96th, 20:46.51) and Melissa Drozda (119th, 21:07.85).

Dirksen said he was pleased with the event.

For the most part, we had a good opener, he said. I think we have our runners right where we want them for this time of the year.

The Huskers will travel to Minneapolis, Minn. to compete in the Roy Griak Invitational held at the Les Bolstad Golf Course on Saturday, Sept. 25. Last year the womens team placed seventh while the mens team finished 13th.