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Cross Country
vs Nuttycombe Invitational
Utes Produces Three All-MWC Runners At Conference Championships
10/29/1999 12:00 AM | Cross Country
Oct. 29, 1999
PROVO, Utah -- The University of Utah cross country team participated in the first ever Mountain West Conference Cross Country Championships in Provo, Utah, on Friday. The Utah men's team placed third overall in the conference with the women's team finishing sixth. Senior Chris Merkley was the Utes top finisher placing third overall in the 8k race with a time of 24:41.80. Travis Hildebrand placed fourth with a time 25:06.50. Johanna Nielsen was the women's top finisher placing seventh overall with a time of 17:48.40. All three were named all-Mountain West Conference.
"It was a good meet with good competition," said Head Coach Mike Jones. "We knew going into the race that our third and fourth runners were hurt and the injuries held us back a little bit and as a result Air Force snuck up on us. Hopefully we can get over this emotional set back and this will put some fire into us heading into districts."
Senior Chris Merkley, who owned the fastest time in the conference going into the meet, was disappointed with his finish. "I was hoping to win but I just didn't have anything the last mile," said Merkely. "I'm disappointed with our team finish. I thought that we could at least place second."
Nielsen held the third fastest women's time overall in the conference going into the meet but placed seventh individually. "I did well but I didn't feel that I was as aggressive as I could have been," said Nielsen. "But this is the best I have ever run at a conference championship."
The Utes will compete at the NCAA District VII Championships on Nov. 6 in Fort Collins, Colo., where Merkley, Hildebrand and Nielsen can qualify for the national championships held in Bloomington, Ind., on Nov. 22 and the men's have an opportunity to qualify as a team.
Men's Team Scores Women's Team Scores
1. Brigham young 1. Brigham young
2. Air Force 2. Colorado State
3. Utah 3. Air force
4. Colorado State 4. Nevada-Las Vegas
5. Wyoming 5. San Diego State
6. New Mexico 6. Utah
7. Wyoming
8. New Mexico
Men's Individual-Utah Women's Individual
1. John Hedengren (BYU)24:36.3 1. Eilizabeth Jackson (BYU) 17:16.2
3. Chris merkley 24:41.8 7. Johanna Nielsen 17:48.4
4. Travis Hildebrand 25:06.5 31. Daisy Freedman 19:36.8
16. Teren Jameson 26:06.2 40. Julie Osguthorpe 20.05.7
21 Phil Stoddard 26:15.5 44. Trina Bateman 20:17.7
26 Lion Gallegos 26:36.2 50. Jennifer Osguthorpe 20:38.0
31. Adam Stark 26:59.2 53. Lauren Adams 20:50.7
38. Mike Strauss 27:19.2 60. Kim Eldredge 22:21.3
39. Chris Gartz 27:27.8
45. Larry Stanley 28:28.3
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