MWC Has Strong Showing At 2006 NCAA Cross Country Championships

BYU's Josh Rohatinsky brings home men's individual crown.

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Nov. 20, 2006

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Mountain West Conference turned in a stellar performance in the 2006 NCAA Cross Country National Championships today at Indiana State University's LaVern Gibson Championship Course at The Wabash Valley Family Sports Center in Terre Haute, Ind. BYU senior Josh Rohatinsky became the first MWC athlete to win an individual national championship, finishing first out of 250 runners in 30:44.90. Wyoming sophomore Mark Korir also captured All-American honors in the men's race, while BYU's Kassi Andersen earned All-America accolades in the women's race.

In the men's race, eighth-ranked BYU finished 11th with a score of 367. Rohatinsky led the field across the finish line, followed by junior Chandler Goodwin, who was the next Cougar to finish the race (53rd, 32:21.40), while sophomore Kyle Perry (77th, 32:40.40), sophomore Jacob Gustafsson (82nd, 32:41.90) and freshman Brandon Hebbert (154th, 33:37.50) finished the scoring for BYU. Individually, Wyoming's Mark Korir turned in a 22nd place finish in a time of 31:24.80 to garner All-America status.

For the women, No. 14 BYU earned a 22nd place team finish, with a score of 448, while Colorado State finished 24th with a score of 475. Andersen paced BYU, finishing the 6K course sixth overall (out of 253 runners) in 20:53.80. Sophomore Amy Fowler was the next BYU runner to cross the finish line (65th, 21;47.00), followed by sophomore Amber Duffin (109th, 22:12.20), senior Anne Heiner (177th, 22:46.00) and freshman Whitney McDonald (200th, 23:03.90). The Rams were led by junior April Thomas' 42nd place finish (21:33.00), while seniors Nicole Feest (124th, 22:20.30) and Danielle Korb (145th, 22:29.70), and sophomores Kirsten Anthony (146th, 22:29.80) and Kristen Hemphill (156th, 22:33.00) rounded out the CSU scoring. New Mexico's Timmie Murphy also competed in the women's race, finishing in a time of 22:16.40 (115th).

Texas Tech's Sally Kipyego won the women's individual national championship in a time of 20:11.10.