DePaul University Athletics
Cross Country Teams Place Third at the DePaul Opener
8/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | CROSS COUNTRY
CHICAGO The DePaul men’s and women’s cross country teams opened their 2008 campaign at the DePaul Opener on Friday in Channel Runne Park. Both teams placed third in the first meet the Blue Demons have hosted since the 2004 Conference USA Championships. Pacing the women was fifth place finisher Terah Cheatham, while incoming freshman Matthew Graham lead the men with a third place finish.
Cheatham completed the women’s 4K course in a time of 15:06.29, crossing the line just one second ahead of sixth place finisher and teammate Mary Cate Quiett. In her first collegiate cross country race Kelly Pickering placed 15th with a time of 15:35.31. Stephanie Hughes claimed 18th with a time of 15:44.66 and Erin Lake finished 23rd in a time of 15:59.06 to round out DePaul’s top-five finishers. Winning the individual competition was Loyola's Colleen Donovan with a time of 14:43.90.
Graham, in his first collegiate competition, conquered the men’s four-mile course with a time of 20:52.94. In a time of 21:15.82, Jakub Kolacz finished in eighth place. Luke Rygh, Dennis Baliga, and Rob Morgan crossed the line together with times of 21:33.65, 21:36.12, and 21:38.46, respectively claiming the 13th through 15th spots. First place went to Danny Docherty of Loyola with a time of 20:49.42.
In head-to-head scoring, DePaul’s women defeated Chicago State, 15-50; UIC, 18-44; UW-Green Bay, 18-44; and UW-Milwaukee, 22-35. The men’s team topped Chicago State, 15-50; St. Xavier, 15-50; UW-Green Bay, 15-50; and UW-Milwaukee, 21-37. Loyola placed first in the team completition for both the men and the women.
The Blue Demons return to action on Saturday, September 6 at the Fordham Fiasco in the Bronx, New York.