TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - September 17, 2005 - Patrina Hayes ran a 17:38.79 to place third and lead the Owls to a fifth place finish Saturday at the 17th Crimson Classic Invitational in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Hayes was only 33 seconds off the pace set by Samford's Lauren Blankenship, as the Kennesaw State senior recorded her second straight top three of the 2005 season. Freshman Erin Sutton had a strong showing in her second collegiate race, placing 13th with a time of 18:22.05.

Senior Magdalena Polko and sophomore Kate Brun placed 25th and 32nd, while freshman Catherine Combs rounded out the scoring with a 42nd place finish.

Samford won the event with three runners placing in the top ten, led by Blankenship. Lamar, host Alabama, and Mississippi State came in two, three, and four, respectively, followed by KSU rounding out the top five.

The Owls take next weekend off before traveling to Macon, Georgia for the Georgia Collegiate State Championships.

17th Crimson Classic Invitational hosted by the University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Team Results
1. Samford (45)
2. Lamar (63)
3. Alabama (77)
4. Mississippi State (91)
5. Kennesaw State (100)
6. Southern Miss (175)
7. North Alabama (233)
8. Rhodes (241)
9. Jacksonville State (254)
10. Ole Miss (258)
11. Arkansas State (332)
12. Alabama State (376)
13. Bevill State (378)
14. West Alabama (448)

Individual Results
3. Patrina Hayes 17:38.79
13. Erin Sutton 18:22.05
25. Magdalena Polko 18:59.32
32. Kate Brun 19:20.53
42. Catherine Combs 19:45.96
53. Kimberly Garner 20:08.98
54. Barbara Garner 20:11.16
75. Kelly Bloom 20:59.73
78: Lindsey Tyus 21:01.97
85. Erica Turner 23:39.03