Shadle Earns All-Big 12 Status

Topeka, Kan. - Senior Anne Shadle finished 15th in the women’s 6,000-meter race at Saturday’s Big 12 Cross Country Championships in Topeka, Kan., leading the Nebraska women’s team to a ninth-place finish. Senior Eric Rasmussen placed 37th as the Huskers finished 12th in the men’s 8,000-meter race.

"We finished about where I thought we would, in respect to the teams’ finishes," Head Coach Jay Dirksen said. "The Big 12 Conference is very, very tough. There were many good runners racing today. "

Shadle’s time of 22:01.82 earned her the final spot on the All-Big 12 team, the first conference honor of her career.

"Anne ran an exceptional race, especially the last half," Dirksen said. "I’m really proud of her. She seems to be pleased with her race, and if she’s happy, I’m happy. She’s tougher on herself than anyone."

Sophomore Kim Pancoast had one of her best races of the year, finishing 29th in 22:37.95, while sophomore Lindsey Finkner was the Huskers’ third-place runner with a 57th-place time of 23:33.31. Rounding out the NU scoring were freshmen Joslyn Dalton (23:51.69) and Val Zajac (24:36.85) in 67th and 82nd places, respectively. Freshmen Elizabeth Lange (88th) and Betsy Miller (92nd) also competed for the Huskers, finishing in respective times of 25:12.67 and 28:27.91.

Rasmussen, who finished in 25:44.09, earned the highest placing of any NU male runner at the Big 12 meet since James Bowler, who was 19th in 2002. Senior Kyle Doperalski grabbed his highest placing ever in the conference championships when he finished 57th in a time of 26:18.77. Sophomore Bryce Dickmeyer improved his time from last year’s meet by 22 seconds as he grabbed 78th in 27:05.29, while sophomore Alec Maduza finished close behind in an 82nd-place time of 27:15.81. Sophomore Mike Dorazil finished off the NU scoring by claiming 91st in 27:59.54, nearly a minute faster that his time from last year. Freshman Kyle Ferry (28:40.14) concluded his first conference meet in 95th.

Nebraska returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 13, when it competes in the NCAA Midwest Region Championships in Peoria, Ill.

-Huskers-

Big 12 Championship Meet
Oct. 30, 2004 -- Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Results
Stateland Cross Country Course --Topeka, Kan.

Women’s Team Scores
1. Colorado 25
2. Missouri 59
3. Oklahoma State 75
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9. Nebraska 235

Name School Time
1. Renee Metevier Colorado 20:28.05
2. Sara Slattery Colorado 21:08.97
3. Christine Bolf Colorado 21:13.83

NU Finishers:
15. Anne Shadle 22:01.82
29. Kim Pancoast 22:37.95
57. Lindsey Finkner 23:33.31
67. Joslyn Dalton 23:51.69
82. Val Zajac 24:36.85
88. Elizabeth Lange 25:12.67
92. Betsy Miller 28:27.91

Men’s Team Scores
1. Colorado 48
2. Texas 63
3. Oklahoma State 108
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12. Nebraska 312

Name School Time
1. Benson Chesang Kansas 24:07.43
2. Brent Vaughn Colorado 24:08.82
3. Matthew Chesang Kansas 24:12.90

NU Finishers:
37. Eric Rasmussen 25:44.09
57. Kyle Doperalski 26:18.77
78. Bryce Dickmeyer 27:05.29
82. Alec Maduza 27:15.81
91. Mike Dorazil 27:59.54
95. Kyle Ferry 28:40.14