Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Men's Cross Country Sixth, Women 22nd At The Pre-National Meet

Oct. 16, 1999

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The 17th-ranked Notre Dame men’s cross country team placed sixth, while the 12th-ranked women were 22nd at the pre-national cross country meet Saturday at the University of Indiana cross country course in Bloomington, Ind.

The men were led by junior Ryan Shay (Central Lake, Mich.), who finished fourth in the 8K race in 24:12.79. Shay’s time was the ninth-fastest in the history of the pre-national 8K race and the fastest time by a Notre Dame runner at the meet. Sophomore Luke Watson (Stillwater, Minn.) was the second Notre Dame men’s runner to cross the finish line, placing 22nd in 24:40.90. Other men’s finishers included: sophomore Marc Striowski (68th-25:20.28), senior Sean McManus (75th-25:26.45), senior Ryan Maxwell (87th – 25:33.59), senior John Dudley (109th – 25:46.47) and sophomore Pat Conway (182nd – 26:27.24).

The men finished ahead of several ranked teams, including seventh-ranked Brigham Young (eighth), ninth-ranked Northern Arizona (11th), 10th-ranked Oregon (seventh), 15th-ranked Portland (14th) and 13th-ranked Weber State (12th).

The women, who competed without their top runner JoAnna Deeter, were led by senior Alison Klemmer (Troy, Mich.), who placed 44th in a 5K time of 18:07.97. Senior Patty Rice (Mishawaka, Ind.), running in her second meet of the season, was the team’s second runner across the finish line, finishing 92nd in 18:32.58. Other Notre Dame women’s finishers included: freshman Jennifer Handley (124th – 18:49.80), junior Erin Olson (138th – 18:58.41), senior Erin Luby (142nd – 18:59.96), junior Bridget O’Brien (159th – 19:11.35) and freshman Kari Eaton (197th – 19:43.82).

In the men’s B race, the Irish men finished eighth and were paced by senior Mike Griewe (Tampa, Fla.), who placed 33rd overall in 26:19.07.

The Notre Dame men’s and women’s cross country teams will be back in action in two weeks for the BIG EAST championships, Friday, Oct. 29, in Bronx, N.Y.