Sports > October 9, 2008

By Allison Lange | Sports editor

This weekend, the women’s cross country team traveled to Eugene, Ore., to compete in the Bill Dellinger Invitational which took place Oct. 4. The team was represented by nine runners, including freshman Allie Kieffer, who finished sixth with a time of 20:44.32.

Freshmen Anna and Dina Nosenko rounded out the top 30 for the Deacons, finishing 19th and 30th, respectively. Sophomore Marley Burns and senior Merry Placer both finished just outside of the top 30. Burns finished 31st with a time of 21:47.01 and Placer finished 32nd with a time of 21:50.23.

Wake beat out No. 17 Colorado State and No. 23 Brigham Young on the way to the team’s fourth place finish in the meet. The Deacons placed fourth behind meet host Oregon, Arkansas and Penn State.

After the women’s outstanding performance, the women’s cross country team moved into the national rankings at No. 25 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll.

This is the first time that the Deacons have been ranked nationally this season.

Wake moved up three places in the USTFCCCA Southeast Regional poll, where the team is now ranked No. 2, behind the N.C. State women’s cross country team.

While the women were in Oregon, the men traveled to Pennsylvania to compete in the Lehigh Invitational Oct. 3.

Sophomore Greg Billington placed first out of the field of 270 runners, giving him his first outright title.

Billington finished with a time of 25:21 and led the Deacons to a sixth place finish out of 41 teams competing in the Men’s White Division 8K Brooks Paul Short Run.

Freshman Tom Morrison also finished in the top 10 for the Deacons, placing eighth with a time of 26:01.Freshman Paul Loeser finished 36th with a time of 26:53.

Both cross country teams are taking a weekend off Oct. 10-12. The men’s and women’s teams will travel to University Park, Pa., Oct. 17 for the final regular season meet, the Penn State Invitational.

Following the Penn State meet, the Deacons will travel to Chapel Hill for the ACC Championships Nov. 1.

Wake will host the NCAA Southeast Regionals at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, N.C., on Nov. 15.