Norse run at Carnegie Mellon Invitational

---Drew Harris

By Chad Hensley, NKU Sports Information

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – With yet another strong group of individual performances, the Northern Kentucky University men’s and women’s cross country teams placed second in their respective events at the Carnegie Mellon Invitational at Schenley Park on Saturday.

Drew Harris once again led the way for the NKU men’s squad, as did Jenna Siemer for the women.

Harris, a native of Alexandria, Ky., completed the eight-kilometer course in a time of 25:51.56, which was good enough for a fourth-place finish. His finish was the 16th fastest in school history and marks the third consecutive event in which his time ranks among the top 25 in school history for an eight-kilometer race.

Harris is currently the owner of the second, third, and now the 16th fastest times in school history.

Siemer, a graduate of St. Henry High School, completed the five-kilometer course with a time of 19:01.03, which was good enough for fifth place overall. Siemer’s blazing time was the eighth fastest in school history and was also the third time in as many weeks that she cracked the top 25 in school history.

Siemer currently owns the fourth, fifth, eighth, 10th, and 17th best times in Norse history over a five-kilometer event.

Janice Laker and Zach Koehler joined in as both had times strong enough to join in on the top 25 party.

Laker, who also equaled the back-to-back-to-back top-25 performances of Harris and Siemer, completed the course with a time of 19:40.63. Laker, a native of Batesville, Ind., placed 12th in the 164-runner field.

Koehler’s time of 26:08.85 was good enough for a seventh-place finish in the 150 runner field and 25th best in school history. This marks the second week in a row that he has achieved a top 25 time.

Jerrica Maddox (16th place; 20:03.14), Rose Morgan (22nd; 20:13.82), Tarah Cole (24th; 20:27.10), and Kira Cooper (25th; 20:29.46) rounded out the roster for head coach Steve Kruse’s squad, which finished with a total of 73 points.

The second-place team finish was the best for the women’s team since placing second in the Dayton Flyer 5K on Sept. 1, 2007.

Matthew Shoulta led a pack of four Norse harriers who finished within 17 seconds of each other. Shoulta’s time of 26:23.89 was good enough for a 13th-place finish.

Ryne Smith (15th; 26:24.37), Eddie Griffin (18th; 26:34.98), and Eric Dwyer (20th; 26:40.06) rounded out the pack that helped NKU finish with 55 team points.

Ben Foley (29th; 27:15.02) and Breylen Derrick (41st; 27:33.18) completed the roster.

Chris Clark, running for California (Pa.), was the men’s medalist with a time of 25:18.28.

Liz Stern, a Carnegie Mellon harrier, won medalist honors by completing the women’s race in a time of 18:51.90.

The NKU women’s team finished in second place, just seven points behind Indiana (Pa.) (66 points). Carnegie Mellon (82 points), Christopher Newport (102) and Franciscan (138) completed the top five.

For the men, NKU was edged by Carnegie Mellon’s 41 points. Duquense (87), California (Pa.) (132), and Indiana (Pa.) (134) rounded out the top five.

NKU will be back in action Oct. 17, as the Norse travel to the campus of Wilmington College to take part in the Wilmington Fall Classic. It will also give Kruse one last look at his team before the postseason begins the following weekend. Racing will begin at 5 p.m.