11-21-2005, 06:27 PM
Duke Takes Bronze Trophy At NCAA Championships
TERRE HAUTE, IND. – The top-ranked Duke women’s cross country team closed its season Monday with a third-place finish out of 31 teams at the 2005 NCAA Championships, hosted by Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind. Senior Clara Horowitz earned her second straight All-America cross country title by placing fifth in the 253-athlete race.
The previously undefeated Blue Devils garnered 185 points to finish just four outside of the No. 2 spot, claimed by 2004 champion Colorado. No. 2 Stanford won the 2005 championship with 146 points.
Horowitz earned the highest individual finish of anyone on the top three teams, running a 19:51 6K. Colorado’s Christine Bolf was sixth, and Stanford’s Arianna Lambie was seventh. Duke held the lead with 90 points through the first half of the race before falling behind Stanford and Colorado.
"My focus was on the team," said Horowitz, "so that took some pressure off me individually. I was very fortunate as an individual, but I came here to run with my team, so it was a sad day for us. But I love my teammmates, and I think third is still a phenomenal finish, so hopefully everyone will be able to realize that."
Horowitz was followed by Blue Devils Natasha Roetter and Shannon Rowbury, who placed 38th and 39th, respectively, Laura Stanley, Sally Meyerhoff and Whitney Anderson, who were 51-53rd and Elizabeth Wort in 60th, respectively. Duke’s top seven runners finished before any other team in the race brought in their five scorers.
The Blue Devils, who won their first Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeast Regional championships in 2004, repeated both in 2005 and earned a top three finish at the national championships for the second straight year. Now Duke’s harriers can turn their attention to the 2006 track season, which begins in January.
TERRE HAUTE, IND. – The top-ranked Duke women’s cross country team closed its season Monday with a third-place finish out of 31 teams at the 2005 NCAA Championships, hosted by Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind. Senior Clara Horowitz earned her second straight All-America cross country title by placing fifth in the 253-athlete race.
The previously undefeated Blue Devils garnered 185 points to finish just four outside of the No. 2 spot, claimed by 2004 champion Colorado. No. 2 Stanford won the 2005 championship with 146 points.
Horowitz earned the highest individual finish of anyone on the top three teams, running a 19:51 6K. Colorado’s Christine Bolf was sixth, and Stanford’s Arianna Lambie was seventh. Duke held the lead with 90 points through the first half of the race before falling behind Stanford and Colorado.
"My focus was on the team," said Horowitz, "so that took some pressure off me individually. I was very fortunate as an individual, but I came here to run with my team, so it was a sad day for us. But I love my teammmates, and I think third is still a phenomenal finish, so hopefully everyone will be able to realize that."
Horowitz was followed by Blue Devils Natasha Roetter and Shannon Rowbury, who placed 38th and 39th, respectively, Laura Stanley, Sally Meyerhoff and Whitney Anderson, who were 51-53rd and Elizabeth Wort in 60th, respectively. Duke’s top seven runners finished before any other team in the race brought in their five scorers.
The Blue Devils, who won their first Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeast Regional championships in 2004, repeated both in 2005 and earned a top three finish at the national championships for the second straight year. Now Duke’s harriers can turn their attention to the 2006 track season, which begins in January.