Oct. 16, 2009
Men's Results | Women's Results
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Due to unseasonable weather conditions, the Nittany Lion cross country team was forced to cancel the annual Penn State National at the Blue/White Golf Course. In a last minute decision, the meet was moved to Lock Haven University, where many of the teams scheduled to appear at the Penn State National were able to compete.
The weather didn't stop senior Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio) from posting another outstanding performance, as she placed third among nationally elite competition. Franek finished the muddy 6,000-meter course in 20 minutes, 28 seconds - just seven seconds behind individual winner, Neely Spence of Shippensburg.
The Nittany Lion women totaled 56 points in the team standings, finishing second-to-only No. 3 West Virginia, which scored a total of 27 points. The Lions bettered several nationally rated programs in the effort, including Providence in third with 74 points, Cornell in fourth (131 points), Boston College in fifth (134 points), and Stony Brook in sixth place (150 points).
Senior Cheryl Spring (The Woodlands, Texas) also provided another impressive effort, taking 10th overall, and ninth in the team scoring in 21:01. Freshman standout Nicole Lord (Media, Pa.) followed in 15th, finishing the course in 21:09. In an great display of pack running, the Lions finished off their top five with 16th and 17th-place efforts from sophomore Caitlin Lane (Greenwich, N.Y.), and freshman Brooklyne Ridder (Cincinnati, Ohio), who crossed the finish line in 21:13, and 21:17, respectively.
Also earning finishing spots in the Nittany Lion top seven were sophomore Kara Millhouse (Boiling Springs, Pa.) and Natalie Bower (Pleasant Unity, Pa.). Millhouse posted a 24th-place finish, clocking 21:28, while Bower crossed the line in 27th in 21:45.
Next up for the Nittany Lions is the Big Ten Cross Country Championships, scheduled for Nov. 1 at the Blue/White Golf Course. The men will kick of the action with a 5.2-mile race, beginning at 10:45 a.m.