October 5, 2008

RAMS GAIN EXPERIENCE ON CAA CHAMPIONSHIP COURSE
Black and Gold place 10th at Mason Invite
Full Results

FAIRFAX, Va. – Virginia Commonwealth University’s young women’s cross country team gained some valuable experience yesterday at championship distance in the George Mason University Invitational at Bull Run Park in Manassas.

The Rams finished 10th out of 16 participating teams.  The event covered 6 kilometers (approximately 3.75 miles), the distance used in championship meets including the Colonial Athletic Association meet on Nov. 1 on the same course.

Five of the seven runners VCU entered Saturday are freshmen.

“We had a good experience at the distance,” assistant coach Ethan Tussing said.  “I think we set ourselves up for a good experience at the conference meet.  We had some girls who were aggressive today and pushed the pace and others who kind of fell off.  But I feel we did well in our first big cross country meet.”

Virginia won the meet, placing four runners in top 10 and three in the top five including winner Lauretta Dezubay.  She covered the distance in 21 minutes, 29 seconds.

VCU’s top runner was freshman Heather DelaCruz, who finished 41st in 23:45.  The Rams’ other runners were senior Samantha Hendel (53rd, 24:13), junior Genova Washington (72nd, 24:51), freshman Aubree Washington (82nd, 25:09), freshman Nicole Walters (91st, 25:53), freshman Christina Costello (120th, 36:41) and freshman Jennifer Dominguez (121st, 26:45).

The Rams will next compete in the William and Mary Invitational on Oct. 18.  That’s their final meet until the CAA championship meet.

For more on the VCU women’s cross country team and all of the Rams’ sports, visit www.vcuathletics.com