Ryan Jank led the men's team to a 5th-place finish. |
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49ers Men Fifth, Women Eighth at Great American Cross Country Festival
Sept. 24, 2005
Cary, N.C. - The Charlotte 49ers men's team used great grouping of their runners to propel them to an impressive fifth-place finish in an extremely deep field at the Great American Cross Country Festival at SAS Soccer Park on Saturday morning.
Senior Cassie Ficken was 14th overall to pace the Charlotte women's team to an eighth place overall finish in the Nike Race of Champions.
MEN'S 8K NIKE RACE OF CHAMPIONS
In the men's 8K Nike Race of Champions, the highest level of collegiate competition, Charlotte grouped three runners back-to-back-to-back in the top 30 and all five of their scorers finished in the top 55 to earn the team fifth in a strong 12-team field. There were 100 men's competitors overall.
National No. 19 William & Mary took the title, followed by Virginia (national receiving votes), defending Division II champion Abilene Christian, Wake Forest (No. 10, SE region) and the Niners.
All five of the 49ers' scorers at the meet established new season-best times. Sophomore Ryan Jank was 27th overall with a time of 25:14.60. He was followed closely by seniors Russell Slade (28th, 25:15.30) and Jamil Muhaimin (29th, 25:18.50). Rounding out the scoring performances were freshman Adu Dentamo (33rd, 25:23.10) and sophomore Matt Hipps (54th, 25:51.50).
Charlotte, ranked 8th in the Southeast Region according to the latest USCCCA poll, placed ahead of a list of impressive teams, six of which were ranked regionally. They were (in order) Georgia (receiving votes nationally), Army (No. 8, NE region), Clemson (No. 4, SE region), North Carolina (No. 9 SE region), Central Michigan (No. 15 Great Lakes region), Duke (No. 5 SE region) and A-10 foe Richmond.
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WOMEN'S 5K NIKE RACE OF CHAMPIONS
In the women's 5K Nike Race of Champions, the highest level of competition at the meet, Ficken was 14th overall with a time of 17:41.00 to lead the 49ers. 112 women contested the race.
Junior Tsehaye Dagnachew finished 38th overall in a time of 18:26.5, while freshman Aja Jackson was next-fastest with a time of 19:00.7 (62nd overall). Also scoring for the Niners were Amelia Slagle (78th, 19:29.30) and freshman Liana Blue (84th, 19:44.50).
The Charlotte women's team finished ahead of Army, A-10 foe Richmond, Alabama, and South Carolina.
Leading the pack was No. 1 Duke, followed by No. 6 BYU, Virginia (receiving votes), No. 21 Georgia, William & Mary (No. 6, SE region), Coastal Carolina (No. 10, SE region), Maryland (No. 10, Mid-Atlantic region) and the 49ers.
Both 49ers teams travel to Bethlehem, Pa. next weekend for Lehigh's 32nd Annual Paul Short Run, another national-caliber event that attracts dozens of schools from around the nation.
