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SU women’s harriers place 26th at NAIA XC National Championship
By Matt Green and Blair Hooper
VANCOUVER, Wash. — Senior Sarah Massey placed 11th overall in her final collegiate race and the Shorter University women's cross country team finished 26th overall at the 2011 NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championship in Vancouver, Wash., on Saturday.
The Lady Hawks totaled 575 points to take 26th out of 32 teams at the national event held at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
Massey, the lone senior on Shorter's roster, crossed the finish line in a time of 17:58 to pace the Southern States Athletic Conference champion Lady Hawks, who were making their first appearance at the national championships since a 19th place finish in 2009.
It was the best performance of Massey's career as the Acworth native capped a tremendous season with a memorable effort on the national stage.
"The girls ran well," said Shorter head coach Jay Stephenson, who was named the SSAC Coach of the Year two weeks ago after the Lady Hawks claimed the team title. "Sarah ran very well and went right to the front. She ran with composure and maturity.
"Sarah beat people she had never beaten before. It was a stand out performance."
Sophomore Shea Spicher was the second Shorter runner to cross the finish line, coming in at 75th overall in a time of 19:13. Sophomore Katie Rutledge placed 156th (20:23), freshman Ashley Logan finished 174th (20:43) and Emma DeBeaucoudrey, who joined the cross country team after concluding her career with Shorter's tennis squad, was Shorter's fifth and final point producer with a 183rd place finish in a time of 20:58.
Shorter totaled for 1 hour, 39 minutes and completed the course in an average time of 19:51.
Cal State San Marcos captured its third straight NAIA Women's Cross Country national championship with an average time of 18:11. Obsie Birru of Grand View (Iowa) became her school's first cross country national champion by winning the event in 17:15.
