monday,november 17,2003
the university daily kansan
sports
7A
Freshman Benson Chesan worked his way through the pack after hopping over one of the Oklahoma State cross country course's small obstacles during the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships Saturday. Chesan placed second overall in the 10-kilometer race and the men's team placed fourth overall.
Eric Braem/Kansan
Cross country waits for at-large bid
By Sean O'Grady
sogrady@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
After placing second at the Midwest Regional cross country meet, Benson Chesang guaranteed himself a spot on the starting line of the NCAA Cross Country Championships.
However the rest of the Kansas men's cross country team must wait to see if they'll be invited to join their teammate in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Nov. 25 for the NCAA Championships hosted by Northern Iowa.
The men finished fourth at the Midwest Regional meet, scoring 139 points, failing to earn an automatic NCAA championship berth.
The team must now hope that its strong performances at meets such as the Pre-Nationals Invitational and OSU Cowboy Jamboree were enough to receive an at-large bid.
A selection committee will announce the recipients of at large bids today.
Despite not automatically qualifying, a goal the team set for itself in August, sophomore Cameron Schweir said the team still had a successful season.
"We definitely didn't finish the best we could have. But we gained so much ground and improved so much," he said. "As a team we came together. We
brought back some of the tradition and turned some heads."
Oklahoma State won the team title.
The Cowboys were led by the meet's individual champion, Mindi Pukstas.
Pukkas covered the 10 kilometer course in 30:49, followed by Chesang, who crossed the line in 30:51. Junior Chris Jones and Schwehr were the next two Jayhawks to finish, placing 11th and 19th respectively. Sophomore Erik Sloan finished 52nd and junior Dan Ferguson 54th, also scoring for the Iavahaws.
and the highest they've placed since 1994 when they finished third.
This was the highest finish the Hawks have had at the regional meet under coach Stanley Redwine
Chesang was the third runner under Redwine to make the trip to nationals, but he said he hoped his teammates could make the trip to Iowa with him.
"I was actually running to qualify my team for nationals," the Ravine, Kenya, freshman said. "I feel good I'm going to nationals my first season of cross country."
Even if the team did not receive an at-large bid, Ferguson said it was optimistic about the future.
"All seven of us who ran are coming back next year," he said. "We're only going to get stronger."
Edited by Michael Owells
NCAAtourney close for'Hawks
By Mike Norris
mnorris@kansan.com
kansan sportswriter
The Kansas volleyball team crept one step closer to an NCAA Tournament invitation Saturday, with a 3-0 sweep of Iowa State in Ames, Iowa.
The victory marks four straight for the Jayhawks in the Big 12 Conference, a school record. Kansas coach Ray Bechard also earned his 100th victory as coach of the Jayhawks.
"Reaching the 100 win milestone is nice, but most important is the 10th conference win," Beachard said. "I just hope the next 100 come a lot quicker."
Last year the Jayhawks were the first team ever to win 10 Big 12 matches and not make the tournament with a 10-10 mark. But the Jayhawks have already reached the 10-win mark this year with four still to play.
"We need to fight and win two, three, four more matches and make them know we deserve to be there," senior outside hitter Sarah Rome said.
Kansas jumped on the Cyclones early taking a 12-4 lead in game one. The Hawks used a .406 hitting percentage to blow out Iowa State 30-16.
In game two Kansas continued to dominate, allowing Bechard to insert some of his bench players. Sophomore setter Andi Rozum
and junior middle blocker Ashley Michaels led Kansas with solid blocking up front, en route to the 30-19 victory.
Coming out of halftime, the Cyclones threatened to force a game four, but Michaels ended the 30-27 victory with a kill, as the Jayhawks improved to 18-9 overall an 10-6 in the Big 12. All 13 Jayhawks saw action in the match.
Kansas is now tied with Colorado for fourth in the Big 12, as it makes a charge for its first-ever berth in the NCAA Tournament.
"It was good to get a 3-0 win on the road," Bechard said. "Iowa State had to make a few adjustments offensively, and we still did things well on our side of the net."
Rome said the team wasn't there yet, as she remembered last season when the 'Hawks narrowly missed out on post-season play.
The Jayhawks will take on the Cornhuskers at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Lincoln, Neb. Nebraska defeated Kansas 3-1 in Lawrence on Oct. 8. It was the first time Kansas was not swept by the 'Huskers since 1998.
Despite trailing the all-time series 70-1, the Jayhawks are not backing down against the No. 10 Cornhuskers.
"We can play with them," Rome said. "We can go in there and surprise them."
—Edited by Erin Riffey
Women runners place fifth in final meet
By Sean O'Grady
sogrady@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas women's cross country team ended its season with its highest finish at the Midwest Regional Championships since 1994.
The Jayhawks finished the meet, hosted by Oklahoma State, fifth out of 24 teams.
Laura Major said the team was not surprised with the way it ran.
"I think we've been capable of it all season," the Jenks, Okla., freshman said.
Kansas was led by senior Laura Lavoie, who finished 10th, running the 6-kilometer course in 21:09.
Junior Megan Mantle was the next Jayhawk across the line at 22:02, placing 17th. Senior Lauren Brownrigg placed 39th, Major 47th and sophomore Angela Pichardo placed 58th, rounding
out the scoring for the 'Hawks. Manthe said the team wanted to send its seniors off on a good note.
Coach Stanley Redwine said he was proud of the team's success at the meet.
"Laura and Lauren have worked so hard to help us get here," she said.
"Hopefully it will be something we continue in the future," he said.
Redwine said he also appreciated the fan support the Hawks received in Stillwater, Chancellor Robert Hemenway and Athletic Director Lew Perkins were on hand to cheer for the cross country team.
Major said the team's focus was now on preparing for the indoor track season.
"We just need to work a lot harder," she said. "There's a lot to look forward to."
-Edited by Michael Owells