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Beyer finishes in top third of the nation
Release Date:
Nov. 22, 2008
MONMOUTH, Ill. —
Competing at the NCAA Cross Country National Championships in
Hanover, Ind., Saturday, Mary Kate Beyer (East Peoria,
Ill./East Peoria) shaved 45 seconds off her previous time at the
Hanover course to place in the top third of the nation.
Beyer’s time of 22:12.78 over the 6K
course, placed her 74th, missing All-American status by less than 30
seconds.
“The time was about, or a little better
than I had hoped for,” said Roger Haynes. “The race went
through a little faster than I thought it would. She was down a few
places from where we had hoped, but she ran very well for her first
national championship meet. It was a good experience and I think it
will have an impact on what she does in the future.”
Beyer got off to a good start, running
from the outside box, her pace was nearly “perfect” through the
first mile.
“She ran well through the middle mile,”
said Haynes. “She probably wasn’t as strong as some of the others in
the last mile or so that she would have hoped to have been, but she
ran really well.”
It was a new experience for the sophomore
who became Monmouth’s first female national qualifier. For the first
time this season, Beyer had no teammates in the race – or even any
teammates to warmup with. Still, she had plenty of support. Family,
friends and teammates made the drive to Hanover to watch history in
the making. That may have taken some of the sting off missing the
All-American goal.
“She was a bit disappointed in not being
closer to All-American,” reported Haynes. “As we drove home Saturday
afternoon, we talked and she realized what she accomplished. We
compared it favorably to what Zach Barr did on that course
his first time.”
What Barr did was place 68th
in 2003, then finish as an All-American in 2004. That’s a pretty
good comparison for Beyer to hang her spikes on.
Men's Cross Country |
Women's Cross Country
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