Subs help women finish third

Issue date: 10/13/08

By Anthony Fenech
Staff Reporter

Leaving its top 10 runners at home, the women's cross country teamplaced third out of five teams at the Kensington Metropark on Friday for the Michigan Intercollegiates meet.

Leading the way for the Chippewas was sophomore Kelly Kobylczyk, running the course in 20 minutes, 8 seconds and placing seventh.

Kobylczyk eclipsed her previous high school times on the course by 30 seconds.

"I was really pleased with how she competed and moved up during the race," said coach Karen Lutzke.

CMU's 67 points trailed Western Michigan's meet-winning 33 points and Eastern Michigan's 35 points.

The Chippewas carried only six runners, mostly all underclassmen, as their teammates rested in preparation for Pre-Nationals on Saturday.

"I didn't want those girls to race three weeks in a row," Lutzke said of the decision to rest the runners.

Freshmen Rachael Wessel and Holly Anderson also placed in the top 15. Wessel finished in 11th place with a time of 20:26, and Anderson finished one spot and one second behind her.

"This was an opportunity for these girls to step up to the plate and be counted on as scorers," Lutzke said.

Noting that these runners haven't competed as much recently, Lutzke said she was pleased with the team's performance.

"These girls got their feet wet and did well," Lutzke said. "It wasn't a perfect race, but it definitely wasn't a bad race."