Dana Morgan |
Pilots run just one senior and have strong showing
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. --- Among a field of 15 teams that included six top 25 programs and another receiving votes, the unranked University of Portland women’s cross country team proved it can compete with the nation’s best by placing seventh overall at the Bill Dellinger Invitational on Saturday. Sophomore Dana Morgan led the Pilots by finishing 12th, while junior Amie Dahnke also earned a top 20 finish individually.
Host Oregon ran away with the team title, scoring 65 points as three Ducks finished in the top 10 led by overall winner Nicole Blood (20:04). Oregon, ranked No. 24 entering the meet, beat out No. 4 Arkansas (90), No. 17 Washington (93), No. 21 Colorado State (95) and No. 18 BYU (104). The other ranked school, No. 15 Georgia, edged Portland 163-178. The Pilots finished ahead of Wake Forest (187), who was receiving votes in the latest USTFCCCAA Top 30 which was released earlier this week.
Morgan paced Portland with a time of 20:43, five seconds back of the 10th-place finisher. Dahnke clocked a time of 20:59. Talented freshman Paige Pattillo was unfazed by the big stage and placed 40th with a time of 21:18. Portland’s other two scoring runners were senior Bobeya Krishnek (48th, 21:22) and junior Allison Ritchie (62nd, 21:34).
Head coach Ian Solof entered seven Pilots into the meet, which featured a total of 141 runners. The 6,000-meter race was held at Springfield Country Club.
Bill Dellinger Invitational
Springfield Country Club
September 29, 2007 – 6,000-meter
Team Results
1. Oregon (65)
2. Arkansas (90)
3. Washington (93)
4. Colorado State (95)
5. BYU (104)
6. Georgia (163)
7. Portland (178)
8. Wake Forest (187)
9. Marquette (301)
10. New Mexico (302)
11. UCLA (323)
12. Montana (324)
12. Oregon State (324)
14. Utah State (361)
15. UTEP (403)
Top Five Finishers
1. Nicole Blood, Oregon (20:04)
2. Katie Follett, Washington (20:17)
3. Alex Kosinski, Oregon (20:24)
4. April Thomas, Colorado State (20:27)
5. Katie Bowen, BYU (20:31)
Portland Runners
12. Dana Morgan (20:43)
20. Amie Dahnke (20:59)
40. Paige Pattillo (21:18)
48. Bobeya Krishnek (21:22)
62. Allison Ritchie (21:34)
86. Adrienne Nova (21:53)
101. Natalie Hemphill (22:06)
