Cross Country: WVU Takes Fourth at National Open
by Shannon McNamara for MSNsportsNET.com
October 7, 2006
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The West Virginia University cross country team placed fourth with 132 points at the Penn State National Open on Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Penn State Blue Course in State College, Pa.
Talented redshirt freshman Clara Grandt led the Mountaineers for the second time this season with an eighth place finish (21:48). Today's strong showing is the third top 10 finish for the West Union, W.Va., native. She previously placed first at the West Virginia Open (15:32) and ninth at the Lock Haven Invitational (21:54).
True freshman Marie Louise Asselin continues to get stronger with each race. The Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, native, finished 12th with a time of 22:15. Junior Maria Stover rounded out the top three Mountaineer times with a 20th place finish (22:30)
Syracuse took the open with 44 points behind the running of first place finisher Nana Sang-Bender (21:22). Host Penn State took second with 64 points and Guelph placed third with 76 points.
WVU does not run again until Oct. 21 when the team travels to Kent, Ohio, for the Golden Flash Invitational at 10:00 a.m.