News Headline

September 24, 2007

SHAWNEE, Okla. – Southwestern Oklahoma State University continued its hot pursuit of front-running Central Oklahoma and gave the Bronchos a stern test by finishing a close third in the Oklahoma Baptist University Cross Country Invitational.

SWOSU had three runners finish eighth or better but still could not overcome UCO. The Bronchos won their third straight meet having four of its five runners finish 12th or better. SWOSU finished with 68 points while UCO was first with 52 points. Cowley Community was second with 54 points. A total of 65 runners from six teams competed in the five-kilometer race at the Gordon Cooper Technology Center in Shawnee.

SWOSU’s Rachel Ingram was the top finisher for the Bulldogs placing second in the with a time of 18:38. She was just nine seconds off the winning time of 18:29 posted by Kenya’s Irene Kosgei of Cowley County.

Ingram’s teammate, Stefanie Jones, was third with a time of 18:52. Both Jones and Ingram beat UCO’s Evelyn Berko who ended the race fourth. Berko had beaten the SWOSU duo in their last race at Missouri Southern State.

Other SWOSU runners and their finish were Grace Anne Fath, in 8th place with a time of 19:42; Kate Hollenshead in 29th place with a time of 21:37, Afton Hoover in 30th place with a time of 21:38; Erin Williams in 39th place with a time of 22:32, Emily Haskins in 41st with a time of 23:17, and Kara Bachus in 51st with a time of 24:18.

SWOSU will next run Saturday at the Oklahoma State University Jamboree in Stillwater, a meet that Ingram has won twice in her career.