Upcoming Event: Cross Country versus Nuttycombe Invitational on October 17, 2025 at 9:30 AM
9:30 AM
Cross Country
vs Nuttycombe Invitational
Saturday, November 15
Fort Collins, Colo.
All Day
University of Utah
vs
NCAA Mountain Regional Championships
Women's Cross Country Rallies for Sixth at Regionals
11/15/2008 12:00 AM | Cross Country
Nov. 15, 2008
Fort Collins, Colo. - The University of Utah women's cross country team finished their last meet of the season on a high note. The Utes ran hard to push for a sixth-place team finish, netting 188 points and a top-five finish time of 1:47:37.9. Junior Alyssa Abbott fought through her current IT band injury to finish ninth out of 127 athletes, garnering all-region accolades and qualifying for the 2008 National Cross Country Meet in Terre Haute, Ind. next week.
Abbott wasn't planning on running the race as of Thursday due to an injured IT band, but by Saturday morning she decided to push through it. She ran the 6K race as if it were a walk in the park, finishing first for the Utes and ninth overall. Abbott's time of 20:52.4 is a new personal best for her and also qualified her for the national meet.
"It's amazing Alyssa [Abbott] was able to run the race, not to mention, to do as well as she did today," noted head coach Kyle Kepler. "She is good enough for nationals, and she came out and proved it. This is the first time she has qualified, so it is very exciting for her."
The second athlete across the line was senior Chelsea DiGrazia. The Ute challenged the lead of the pack with a 21st-place finish and a time of 21:10.3. Although unable to qualify for nationals, DiGrazia set a new personal record and garnered all-region honors with teammate Abbott.
Finishing in the top-50 runners on Saturday was senior Lauren Endersen. She ran tough to finish in 21:26.0, a new lifetime best for the Ute. Endersen's time placed her 32nd overall in the meet.
Rounding out the top five finishes from Saturday's race were seniors Kellie Anderson and Janett Ern. They both finished in the top-75 of the race and were mere seconds behind one another. Anderson crossed the line first out of the two with a time of 22:03.1, followed by Ern's finish at 22:06.1. Anderson and Ern both posted lifetime best times on Saturday.
The team's scoring runners tallied 1:47:37.9 for an overall finish of sixth. This is the second highest finish in school history.
"We're very excited! Team-wise this has been a tremendous year and is a tremendous honor for the team. Our seniors have worked so hard to raise the level of this program and this is really a special day for them along with the rest of the team," said coach Kepler. "They're a great representation of our school and of the community at-large. Hopefully this is something they can be proud of the rest of their lives."
Newcomers Samantha Gaffney and Carly Selleck also ran well on Saturday. Gaffney finished in 22:34.5 in the 6K for an 85th-place finish. Selleck finished 102nd overall with a time of 23:03.5. Both Utes set new lifetime bests in the race.
Players Mentioned
Distance/CC
/ Cross Country
Distance/CC
/ Cross Country
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