Cross Country teams open season at Maple Leaf Invite
By: David Toelle, KWU Sports Information

BALDWIN CITY – Kansas Wesleyan opened its 2008 cross country season with the Baker Maple Leaf Invitational at the Baldwin City Golf Course. Senior Sarah Williams set a new course record winning the women’s race, while the men were led by Mike Rascon, who finished 24th overall.

In the women’s race, Williams won the 4K race in 14:46, setting a new course record, and was nearly 15 seconds ahead of Emporia State’s Katie Mona in second place. Shanda Anderson finished 15th in 16:11, followed closely behind by Kara Walker in 16th at 16:15. Other KWU finishers included Angela Gomez with a 17:41, Brittany Brown in 18:27, Marylou Casillas in 18:39 and Angela Padilla in 20:31. The women finished sixth in the team standings with 146 points.

Rascon was the top finisher for the men, completing the 5K course in 16:50, while Jeremy Davies was next for Wesleyan with a 17:24. Other finishers for KWU included Paul Minneman with a 17:46, Seth Schooley with a 17:56, Jose Silva in 18:11, Tyler Jensen in 18:40 and Robert McClung in 19:04. The men also finished sixth in the team standings, scoring 184 points.

Wesleyan hits the course again on this Friday at Friends University’s Night Invite at Lake Afton, just outside of Wichita. The women’s race begins at 6 p.m., followed by the men’s at about 6:45. Lake Afton Park is located at 25513 W. 39th St. South, near Goddard.

-- KWU SI --