Oct. 19, 2013
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - The Penn State men's and women's cross country teams posted a pair of top-20 finishes at the Pre-National Invitational at Indiana State's Lavern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course Saturday morning. The women's squad finished in 13th place, while the men's squad placed 17th.
On the 6,000-meter course, junior Leigha Anderson (Carlisle, Pa.) paced the women's contingent, crossing the finish line in 20:58.67 for a 43rd-place finish. Senior Marta Klebe (Chesterbrook, Pa.) was next for the Nittany Lions as she secured a 67th-place finish with a time of 21:12.98.
Senior Emily Giannotti (Coudersport, Pa./21:23.47/91st place), junior Katie Rodden (Ardmore, Pa./21:34.18/115) and sophomore Tori Gerlach (Perkasie, Pa./21:53.57/169) rounded out the team's top five.
The Nittany Lions finished in 13th place with a score of 485 points, while Georgetown captured the women's crown with 117 points.
In the 8,000-meter men's race, junior Matt Fischer (Kennett Square, Pa.) secured a 29th-place finish with a time of 23:59.35, while sophomore Robby Creese (Mount Airy, Md.), who placed 57th, was the second Nittany Lion across the line with a time of 24:16.76.
Freshman Connor Quinn (Horsham, Pa.) finished in 151st place with a time of 24:57.91, while senior Nick Scarpello (Jamison, Pa.) crossed the finish line five places later in 24:58.75. Junior Chris Campbell (Newton, Pa.) completed the course in 25:13.31 - good for 206th place - to round out the Nittany Lions' scoring five.
Penn State accumulated 599 points for its top-20 finish, while Colorado finished in first place with 90 points.
Both cross country teams will return to action Sunday, Nov. 3 when the Nittany Lions compete in the Big Ten championships in West Lafayette, Ind.
Women's Top Results:
43. Leigha Anderson (20:58.80)
67. Marta Klebe (21:12.98)
91. Emily Giannotti (21:23.47)
115. Katie Rodden (21:34.18)
169. Tori Gerlach (21:53.57)
Men's Top Results:
29. Matt Fischer (23:59.35)
57. Robby Creese (24:16.76)
151. Connor Quinn (24:57.91)
156. Nick Scarpello (24:58.75)
206. Chris Campbell (25:13.31)