Cross Country Has A Great Day On The Plains

--- Bulldogs take fifth place in Auburn Invitational ---

Sept. 30, 2006

AUBURN, Ala. ---- The Samford cross country team captured at great fifth place finish for both the men and the women today in the 2006 Auburn Invitational. The Bulldogs came in behind 15^th-ranked Iowa, host team Auburn, Florida State, and Steven F. Austin. Overall, there were 24 women’s teams and 21 men’s teams running in the meet.

Katherine Herring finished seventh for the women in the 3.1-mile course with a personal best time of 17:05. Herring was named OVC Cross Country Athlete of the Week last week along with teammate Bo Brawner.

Behind Herring were Britney Almaguer coming in a 22^nd with a time of 17:58 and Robyn DeBenedet at 28^th, running 18:05. Jessica Van Ausdall finished 47^th with a time of 18:27, Angela Fister ran 18:35 putting her at 56^th, and Lauren Pilcher finished 107^th with a time of 19:47.

Drew Anderwald was the top runner for the Bulldog men in the 5K course. Anderwald finished 30^th with a time of 25:13. Brawner and Michael Hanson came in right behind each other, finished 35^th and 36^th respectively, each with a time of 25:19. Blaise Carie ran 25:41, coming in a 52^nd place and Cameron Bean finished 54^th with a time of 25:42.

Other runners for the Bulldogs were Chase Keithan (26:26) and Patrick Ollinger (26:32).

“Today was a great day for us,” said Head Coach Glenn McWaters. “I was really pleased with the way we performed in this meet. We showed much improvement from last week, and I think we are on track to do well in the conference for both the men and the women.”

Next, the Bulldogs head to Chattanooga, Tenn., to participate in the UTC Invitational. This will be the second time that Samford has made the trip up to Chattanooga. The Bulldogs will try to top the second place finish for the women and the fourth place finish for the men that they chalked up on their last trip to Chattanooga.

*** SAMFORD BULLDOGS ***