Ingram Dusts Field, Wins First

September 10, 2006

ADA, OK –Southwestern Oklahoma State cross country star Rachel Ingram was the runaway winner at the East Central University Tiger Chase racing past a field of 52 participants to claim the individual title.

Ingram, a junior from Springfield, Mo., blistered the five-kilometer course at the Pontotoc Technology Center in a time of 18 minutes and 45 seconds and finished 38 seconds ahead of her nearest pursuer.

Ingram has been beaten only by two runners this year, both international runners from Kenya who compete for Texas Tech and South Plains Junior College.

Stefanie Jones, junior from Fort Smith, Ark., had her second straight top 10 finish for the Bulldogs by placing third in the meet. She covered the course in a time of 19:26, only three seconds behind second-place runner Evelyn Berko of Central Oklahoma.

As a team, SWOSU finished fourth among the seven squads entered with 88 points. UCO won the meet thanks to having four runners finish in the top 10 and a fifth one in 13th place. The Bronchos had 39 points while second-place Oklahoma Christian had 61 and Midwestern State was third with 67 points.

Other SWOSU finishers were Kate Hollenshead in 19th place with a time of 21:39, Carly Johnson in 36th with a time of 23:28, Afton Hoover in 37th with a time of 23:35, Emily Haskins in 38th with a time of 23:40 and Sarah Jrab in 45th with a time of 25:55.

The Bulldogs next meet will be Sept. 16 at the Missouri Southern Stampede in Joplin, Mo.