October 30, 2004
Cross Country
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SYCAMORE WOMEN TAKE FIFTH AT MVC CHAMPIONSHIPS

CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Indiana State women’s cross country team earned a fifth-place finish at the 2004 Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Championships Saturday (Oct. 30). Sophomore Laura Engle was the first Sycamore to complete the 5k course, posting a time of 18:55.10, which helped the Sycamores earn 153 total points.
   Southwest Missouri State won the team championship, earning 38 points. Host Southern Illinois finished second with 60 points, while Wichita State took third with 80 points. Illinois State tallied 115 points to earn fourth place. Creighton followed the Sycamores, earning 173 points. Bradley (184), Drake (203), Northern Iowa (232), and Evansville (246) rounded out the field.
   “It was a disappointing day for us,” said head women’s coach John Gartland. “I expected us to be ready today, but we were adversely affected by the heat and came out flat. I did not have our team prepared very well.”
   Junior Sarah Jarvis finished the course in 19:24.72, which was good for 26th place. Sophomore Dani Prince was 30th with a time of 19:33.56, while freshman Heather Stembridge’s time of 19:50.23 moved her into 39th position. Sophomore Maile Venable came across the tape in 19:57.11 for 43rd place.
   Carol Linneweber was 45th, finishing in 20:01.46, while Leah Durr was 48th with 20:13.85. Jillian Yorn finished 56th out of the 75 entrants with a time of 20:37.38. Casey Owens of SMS won the individual championship with a time of 17:53.75.
   Indiana State returns to action on Saturday, November 13, when the Sycamores travel to Ypsilanti, Mich., to take part in the 2004 Great Lakes Regional Meet.