UNLV's Zarndt On Course For Big Finish

Cross country runner striving for national meet.

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Nov. 12, 2002

By Jeff Wollard
Las Vegas Review-Journal

LAS VEGAS - Jessica Zarndt has run through her share of hoops over the course of her cross country career.

It's no secret that the UNLV distance program has spent the last three years in turmoil. Controversy and several coaching changes have chased many runners away, but not Zarndt. The Las Vegas native, a Cheyenne High School graduate, will compete in the NCAA West Regional at Palo Alto, Calif., on Saturday with one last chance to put her name in the record books.

Only two Rebels -- Angie Fortner (now Angie Bestwick) in 1998 and Katie Barto in 2000 -- have ever qualified for the national meet, but Zarndt, a senior, proved she has a legitimate shot of joining that elite group when she finished seventh at the Mountain West Conference Championships on Nov. 1.

"I really want to qualify for nationals," said Zarndt, who must be among the top four individual finishers Saturday to advance. "My goal is to secure a spot by finishing ahead of as many people as I can. I plan to leave it all on the course and have my best race ever."

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