Sept. 7, 2001

VALPARAISO, Ind. – The fifth-ranked Notre Dame men’s cross country team opened up the 2001 campaign with a first-place finish at the Valparaiso Invitational. The Irish claimed five of the top eight finishes in the race as the Irish outdistanced the seven-team field by finishing with a final score of 21.

The women harriers took second in the meet with a final total of 41 among the eight schools competing. Western Michigan claimed the title with a final score of 21.

Valparaiso finished second with a score of 57 in the men’s race with two of its runners in the top five.

Notre Dame’s two top harriers Luke Watson (Stillwater, Minn.) and Ryan Shay (Central Lake, Mich.) did not run in the race. The Irish were led by sophomore Todd Mobley (West Bloomfield, Mich.) who crossed the finish line in first with a time of 25:17. Another sophomore, Brian Kerwin (Point Pleasant, N.J.), took second in 25:28, while senior Marc Striowski (Toronto, Ontario) finished third in 25:29.

Sophomore Mario Bird (Kenai, Alaska) was seventh in 25:41, while freshman Ryan Johnson (Auburn, Ind.) was eight in his first collegiate race with a time of 25:43. Junior Nathan Shay (Central Lake, Mich.) took ninth in 25:58, and senior Tom Lennon (Hohokus, N.J.) placed 10th as he crossed the finish line with a time of 26:24.

In the women’s race, freshman Christi Arnerich (Huntington Beach, Calif.) was the first Notre Dame across the finish line as she finished second among the collegians in the race with a time of 23:03. Junior Melissa Schmidt (Miles City, Mont.) was sixth with a time of 23:05. Sophomore Emily Showman (Seattle, Wash.) and senior Hilary Burn (Ottawa, Ontario) claimed ninth and 10th, respectively, with times of 23:23 and 23:28.

Sophomore Julia Schmidt (Oakland, Mich.) finished 14th with a time of 23:32, followed by back-to-back finishes by sophomore Megan Peterson (Fairfield, Conn.) in 17th (23:42) and sophomore Beth Androski (Hackensack N.J.) in 18th (23:45).

Both Irish teams return to action when Notre Dame plays host to the National Catholic Championships on Fri., Sept. 22.

Men’s Team Scoring: 1. Notre Dame – 21, 2. Valparaiso – 57, 3. Wisconsin-Milwaukee – 78, 4. Indiana – 119, 5. Chicago State – 140, 6. Wisconsin-Green Bay – 155, 7. Evansville – 163.

Women Team Scoring: 1. Western Michigan – 27, 2. Notre Dame – 41, 3. Valparaiso – 83, 4. Wisconsin – 102, 5. Evansville – 160, 6. Wisconsin-Green Bay – 168, 7. Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne – 184, 8. Chicago State – 253.

Individual Top 10 Finishes (Men): 1. Todd Mobley (Notre Dame) – 25:17, 2. Brian Kerwin (Notre Dame) – 25:28, 3. Marc Striowski (Notre Dame) – 25:29, 4. Nate Nunnelly (Valparaiso) – 25:38, 5. Aaron Crague (Valparaiso) – 25:38, 6. Cornelius Hill (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) – 25:39, 7. Mario Bird (Notre Dame) – 25,41, 8. Ryan Johnson (Notre Dame) – 25:43, 9. Nathan Shay (Notre Dame) – 25:58, 10. Tom Lennon – 26:24.

Other Notre Dame finishers: 11. Kevin Somok – 26:31, 12. Sean O’Donnell – 26:40, 16. Eric Morrison – 26:49, 18. Kevin Avenius – 27,11, 19. John Keane – 27:17, 40. Michael Zonder – 28:20

Individual Top 10 Finishes (Women): 1. Ann Stechschulte (Unatt.) – 22:01, 2. Kylie Schultz (Unatt.) – 22:24, 3. Abby Hurst (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) – 22:39, 4. Christi Arnerich (Notre Dame) – 22:55, 5. Gwen Ottenweller (Western Michigan) – 23:03, 6. Allison Langworthy (Western Michigan) – 23:03, 7. Jessica Davis (Western Michigan) – 23:04, 8. Melissa Schmidt (Notre Dame) – 23:05, 9. Kristin Maine (Western Michigan) – 23:07, 10. Leah Godfrey (Western Michigan) – 23:19.

Other Notre Dame finishers: 11. Emily Showman – 23:23, 12. Hilary Burn – 23:28, 16. Julie Schmidt – 23:32, 20. Megan Peterson – 23:42, 21. Beth Androski – 23:45, 26. Katie Wales – 24:16, 27. Keri McCarthy – 24:22, 29. Susan Creary – 24:33, 38. Kerry Meagher – 25:07, 50. Melissa Webb – 25:47.