Nov. 12, 2000

By Joshua S. Gildea
NewsNet Sports Writer

PROVO, Utah - Both the men's and women's cross country teams secured a spot in the NCAA National Championship Meet Nov. 20th in Ames, Iowa by beating out over 16 other college teams at the meet.

Six inches of snow and freezing temperatures didn't keep the BYU teams from a strong showing.

The women's team, lead by senior All-American Sharolyn Shields-Thayer, placed three runners in the top ten to finish second behind the University of Colorado.

Patrick Shane, head coach of the women's team, said he was pleased with the performance of his team.

"We achieved our objective in the meet: to finish in the top two," Shane said.

Only the top two finishers at each district meet around the nation are guaranteed an invitation to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 20th.

Other teams from around the nation that did not finish in the top two of their district meets will be selected on an at-large basis.

Coach Shane was so confident in his team that he did not run three of his top seven runners in the meet so they could rest for the NCAA meet next week.

Shane said the biggest surprise of the meet was the performance of senior Melanie Steere.

Steere placed ninth overall to help secure the Cougars No. 2 finish.

"We still had one spot left on next week's national team and we didn't know who was going to fill it," Shane said.

"Melanie stepped up today and put herself on the team."

Steere will be one of seven team members to run next week at the championship meet in Iowa.

Freshman Sarah Ellett also finished in the top ten for the Cougars.

The men's team also finished second at the meet behind the University of Colorado.

Lead by junior John Hedengren and freshman Josh Rohatinsky, the Cougars assured a trip to Iowa next week.

Hedengren finished seventh overall with a time of 31 minutes, 13 seconds -- just 35 seconds off the leader.

BYU upset No. 5 ranked Northern Arizona University by stealing the second-place finish.

NAU will now have to compete for an at-large invitation to the big dance.

Many spots on the course were covered in a thick layer of ice and mud which made negotiating the terrain difficult for the runners.

Despite the longer spikes worn by the runners, several men came across the finish line muddied and bloodied.

Rohatinsky suffered a cut on his left shin when another runner's spike caught him in the leg.

Ed Eyestone, head coach of the men's cross country team, said the team will now take the next week off to rest up for the National Championships.