Cross Country Recap

The men and women cross country teams ran away with valuable

points towards nationals this weekend at the Roy Griak Invitational

at the University of Minnesota.

The men finished third overall and the women seventh in the most

important meet of the young season.

The Griak featured many of the nation’s toughest individual

runners and a host of the top national programs.

Wisconsin won the men’s field with 89 points and three of the

top six individual finishers.

Austin Vigil led the Rams, finishing fifth overall in a time of

24 minutes, 24 seconds. Bill Michel (10th, 24:33) and Josh Glaab

(14th, 24:36) joined Vigil among the top 15.

“I’m very, very proud of our performance,” coach Del Hessel

said. “We did a very fine job in carrying out the race plan.”

The three upperclassmen completed the Rams’ strategy to near

perfection. Vigil and Glaab ran with the top 15 throughout the race

and Michel slowly challenged from further back.

“Josh and Austin ran incredible; they did all the work,” Michel

said. “I just felt stronger as the race progressed. When the field

slowed at the hills I sped up and fed off that.”

Mike Nicks (37th, 25:02), Matt Ciencuilli (86th, 25:39), Paul

Michel (88th, 25:39) and Paul DiGrappa (100th, 25:46) rounded out

the men’s runners.

Unfortunately for the Rams, Ciencuilli and DiGrappa became ill

before the race and had to be isolated in an effort to keep the

team healthy.

With a fully healthy team the Rams “could have run better, but

every team thinks we could have done this or that, but you’re at

where you’re at,” Hessel said.

With the top five runners factoring into the team score, a

better finish by a fifth runner likely would have propelled CSU

past runner-up BYU. The Rams finished with 152 points, the BYU

Cougars with 131.

With a third place finish the men garnered an important standing

in the national scene.

“We made a statement that CSU is certainly a national-caliber

program,” Hessel said.

The women finished strong, but slightly below high expectations.

They ended in seventh place, just outside their goal of being in

the top five.

For Hessel, the race displayed an improving women’s team.

“I am absolutely sure this women’s team will get better,” Hessel

said. “We beat some good teams and still have a chance to

improve.”

Nicole Feest finished 27th overall, in 21:38, to lead the

cluster of Rams behind her. Michelle Carman (42nd, 21:53) Colleen

Blair (44th, 21:54) and Crystal Clark (46th, 21:54) crossed the

line together.

Jen Kintzley (62nd, 22:09) Katie Yemm (64th, 22:10) and Sarah

MacKay (67th, 22:11) all ran well for CSU.