Western State College Time Trials

The Western State College men and women's cross country teams kicked off their 2005 season Saturday, August 27 with the annual time trial at Tomichi Heights, a mile east of Gunnison. The time trial is a points race for the Mountaineers., helping to decide the top seven runners by the end of the year. The first four runners received 12 points each.

The men, defending NCAA champions, ran six laps on the oval or 10,560 meters at 8000’ in elevation. Twenty-nine Mountaineers ran the trial along with Tim Parr., former WSC All-American who will represent the USA in the World Mountain Running Championships next month in Wellington, New Zealand. The first three men ran the course in 35:18 and included seniors Oliver Bodor and Kelly Christensen, 2nd and 3rd in the nation in the NCAA championships in 2004, and red-shirt freshman Iain Donnan, In 4th place was senior Patrick Searing. He was followed by Cole Murch from the 2004 championship team in 5th. Then came junior John Butkey - 6th, senior Scott Swearingen, a 2004 All-American - 7th, freshman Adam Rich - 8th. Sophomore Kim Hogarth was 9th and senior -Nick Hirsch - 10th. The spread from the lst to final runner in the time trial was the best ever, with 35:18 as the winning time and 39:54 as the 29th place time. Coach Duane Vandenbusche was pleased with the time trial, saying: "We showed excellent depth and also some excellent performances up front. The key now is to improve daily and stay healthy."

The Mountaineer men will be off this coming weekend and then will compete in the University of New Mexico Invitational on September 10 in Albuquerque.

The Western State women followed the men in the time trial on Saturday. They ran four laps at Tomichi Heights or 7.040 meters with partly cloudy conditions and no wind. .Sixteen women competed. Senior Miranda Mikesh won the race in the fine time of 28:06. She was followed by junior Kim Jacques in 28:13 and Ashley Martinez, another junior in 28:15. In 4th,was sophomore Agnes Kroneraff in 28:43; 5th place went to junior Leora Jordan. Then it was junior Rachel Harper - 6th, sophomore Alexandra Tayrien - 7th., red-shirt freshman Sarah Much - 8th., sophomore Shannon Filar - 9th and junior Jann Johnson - 10th. Like the men, the spread from the lst woman to the 16th in the time trial was the best ever - 28:06 to 33:55. Coach Vandenbusche had this to say about the time trial, “It was a fine performance by the women. After last year's third place finish in the NCAA championships, we needed to get more depth and get better. I believe we have in both areas. Miranda Mikesh had a great trial we had a very good pack time from l-6. The women have worked hard, but there is more work to do to get better.”

The women like the men., are off this weekend and then run at the University of New Mexico meet on September 10.