EAGLE -- Setting a course record and placing first overall, junior Angela Wagner led the BYU women’s cross country team to the title at the Bob Firman Invitational on Saturday.
“The team met my expectations and made big improvements from two weeks ago,” said BYU women’s cross country coach Patrick Shane. “The course was muddy, wet, up and down hills and over some tough terrain; this is what cross country is all about and the girls loved it.”
Pulling in first with a record setting time of 18:19 for the 5K, Wagner was followed by teammates Katy Andrews, a freshman, in 18:29 placing second; Stacy Slight was fifth, 18:45; Jessica Lemmon was eighth, 18:56; and Sarah Hansen closing up the top 10 in 10th with 19:03.
“This was a much better race for me,” said Wagner. “I started out nice and easy and was able to keep going at a better pace, being fully recovered two weeks ago.”
The Cougars had a composite score of 25, forcing Idaho State into second place with 56 points and Boise State into third with 74 points.
One challenging aspect of this race was the landscape of the course. Due to weather conditions, the team ran through mud, dirt, sand, up and down hills and along coastlines giving them the true cross country experience.
“This was classic cross country,” said Lemmon. “I wasn’t feeling well for the meet at home two weeks ago, so I was glad to be fully recovered and able to run in such a fun race. My teammates pushed me to keep going and it was fun running with them on this course.”
Collectively and individually happy with the race and scores, Wagner described this as a team spirited race, unexpectedly with everyone really happy with their times.
Wasting no time, the team will compete in the Stanford Invitational next week in Palo Alto, Calif., Saturday.
The men’s team will also be on the road, heading to Falcon Heights, Minn., to compete in the Roy Griak Invitational also on Saturday.
Bob Firman 5K Invitational
Eagle Idaho, Sept. 20, 2008
Team Scores
1-BYU, 25
2-Idaho State, 56
3-Boise State, 74
Individual College Women's Results
1-Angela Wagner, BYU, 18:19
2-Katy Andrews, BYU, 18:29
5-Stacy Slight, BYU, 18:45
8-Jessica Lemmon, BYU, 18:56
9-Sarah Yingling, unattached,
10-Sarah Hansen, BYU, 19:03