GUNNISON, Colo. – Redshirt-freshman Sarah Lange (Brattlebora, Vt.) finished seventh overall and as the sixth scoring runner in the women’s 5k college race at the Western State Mountaineer Open on Saturday morning, with redshirt-freshman Tayler Warren (Evergreen, Colo.) near behind as the seventh collegiate runner as the Grizzlies finished second in the team standings.
Western State senior Laruen Kleppin took top individual honors as the Mountaineers claimed the team title at their home meet with 20 points. Kleppin’s winning mark of 18:05.04 was over 20 seconds ahead of teammate Sarah Lyle who placed second in 18:25.29. Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) 2010 Runner of the Year Alexis Skarda was third in 18:40.91, leading Colorado Medsa to a third place finish in the team standings with 63, just behind ASC with 54 points. Colorado Christian rounded out the field with 90 points.
Lange led the ASC pack with a time of 19:27.53, while Warren came across in 20:25.09. The two finished back-to-back in the collegiate race but were separated by a pair of unattached runners to place seventh and 10th in the overall standings.
Sophomore Vivian Ochoa (Burbank, Calif.) was the next scoring runner for the Grizzlies, clocking a time of 20:35.26 for 15th overall and 10 team points.
Following Ochoa was junior Lindsey Grasmick (Fowler, Colo.) who clocked a time of 20:40.38 for 17th overall and 12 team points. Following her was redshirt-freshman Emalie Barnett (Greenville, S.C.), adding 19 points to the Grizzly team total with a time of 22:19.81.
Redshirt-freshman Shelby Rushing (Alamosa, Colo.) and junior Jenna Iwaniec (Culver, Ind.) crossed the line in 36th and 37th respecticely, to round out the ASC contingent. Rushing finished in 23:29.30 and Iwaniec in 23:49.17.
Freshman Kelsey Corbin (Mancos, Colo.) ran unattached on Saturday morning at the Mountaineer Open. Corbin finished 12th overall in 20:24.68.
ASC harriers will be back in action next weekend as the Grizzlies head to Stillwater, Okla. to run at the Cowboy Jamboree, hosted by Oklahoma State University.
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