Husker Harriers Continue Improvement at Loyola?s Lakefront

Chicago, Ill. - The Nebraska men’s and women’s cross country teams had their best races of the 2004 season Saturday at the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational, hosted by Loyola University of Chicago at Montrose Beach Park. The women’s squad finished in eighth place out of 24 teams in the Gold Division, while the Husker men finished 12th.

"We ran a ton better today than we have so far this year," Head Coach Jay Dirksen said. "We are getting better, making progress. Your goal is to get better each and every time you go out there and run, and both (men’s and women’s) teams made significant strides today."

Senior co-captain Anne Shadle recored the highest finish of any NU runner, placing seventh in the women’s 5k race in a time of 17:45. Sophomore Lindsey Finkner completed what Dirksen called the "best race of her career" with an 18th-place finish in a 5k career-best of 17:59, while freshman Joslyn Dalton continued her outstanding debut season by finishing 36th in a time of 18:22. Sophomore Kim Pancoast (18:33) and junior Michaela Lenihan (19:24) rounded out the Huskers scoring spots by finishing 49th and 105th, respectively. Freshmen Elizabeth Lange (121st) and Val Zajac (132nd) also ran for NU, finishing in repective times of 19:37 and 19:50.

Senior co-captain Eric Rasmussen led the Husker men with a 13th-place finish in 24:57, while another senior co-captain, Kyle Doperalski, made his 2004 season debut by finishing 47th in 25:41. A trio of sophomores completed the NU scoring with Bryce Dickmeyer finishing 57th in 25:51, Alec Maduza finishing 99th in 26:28, and Mike Dorazil finishing in 143rd place in 27:15. Freshmen Kyle Ferry (27:45) and Andrew Lind (27:52) continued their season-long improvement with 180th and 189th-place finishes, respectively.

Nebraska returns to action in two weeks, when it competes in the Division I Cross Country Pre-National Meet in Terre Haute, Ind. The meet will be held on Oct. 16 at the La Vern Gibson cross country course, the same site as the 2004 NCAA Championships.

Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational
Oct. 2, 2004 -- Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Results

Women’s Team Scores
1. Marquette 79
8. Nebraska 203

Name School Time
1. Leah Rygh Depaul 17:24
2. Heidi Lindeman Marquette 17:26
3. Maureeca Lambert Loyola 17:31
4. Jill Scully Ball State 17:38
5. Laura Engle Indiana State 17:44

NU Finishers:
7. Anne Shadle 17:45
18. Lindsey Finkner 17:59
36. Joslyn Dalton 18:22
49. Kim Pancoast 18:33
105. Michaela Lenihan 19:24
121. Elizabeth Lange 19:37
132. Val Zajac 19:50

Men’s Team Scores
1. Loyola University of Chicago 93
12. Nebraska 326

Name School Time
1. Bobby Anderson Drake 24:20
2. Nate Peck Grand Valley State 24:32
3. Jack Kafel Reebok 24:35
4. Michael Breshears SW Missouri State 24:37
5. Jeff Jonaitus Reebok 24:41

NU Finishers:
13. Eric Rasmussen 24:57
47. Kyle Doperalski 25:41
57. Bryce Dickmeyer 25:51
99. Alec Maduza 26:28
143. Mike Dorazil 27:15
180. Kyle Ferry 27:45
189. Andrew Lind 27:52