RESULTS (PDF)
OWENSBORO, Ky. -- Three top 10 times in school history were established Saturday as the Morehead State men's cross country team won the Fast Cats Classic and the women finished third at Yellow Creek Park.
All fIve of the men's top racers placed in the top 11 overall, and MSU's top three runners each finished first, second and third in the official point scoring. Junior Zachariah Elliott took fourth overall but was first among the attached runners with a time of 25:26.70. That marked the ninth fastest 8K score in program history.
Women's seniors Anya Martinez and Holly Mandzak also recorded top 10 program times. Martinez was third overall, crossing the 5K finish line in 18:12.90 and scoring a fifth place time in school history. Mandzak's time of 18:39.90 placed her seventh in the race and ninth on the MSU all-time top 10 list.
Freshman Jesse Moreno crossed the tape second for the Eagles and fifth in the race at 25:43.60. Junior Chase Ratliff was nearly neck-and-neck with Moreno, finishing in 24:44.40. Sophomore Gary Monroe crossed the tape in 25:55.70, and sophomore Desmond Bell rounded out MSU's top five, finishing 11th with a time of 26:13.50.
Several other men's athletes ran for the Eagles. Freshman Joe Kirtner finished 20th with a 27:01.60, while classmate Evan Chilers crossed the line in 28:11.50. Two other newcomers, Wes Morris and Clay Dixon, also competed for MSU.
Besides the first two Eagle women to finish, MSU had a trio of freshmen and a senior turn in top 20 efforts. Morgan Lira, running in her first meet since the opener last month, finished 15th at 19:13.30. Erica Parks was right behind at 19:14.40, and Lauren Tarovisky took 17th with a time of 19:14.80. Senior Laurie Stoutenburgh crossed the line in 20th place at 19:25.50.
Senior Kate Bomar (19:36.50) and sophomore Krystal Williams (19:36.70) were next for the Eagles, in 22nd and 23rd place respectively. Senior Natalie Norman sprinted in with a time of 19:58.80. Junior Parker Winters, freshmen Jasmyn Andrews and Alex Morris and senior Kayla Burton each raced for MSU as well.
This marked the final tune-up before the Ohio Valley Conference Championships, set for Oct. 27 in Oxford, Ala.
