Oct. 5, 1997

Notre Dame Men and Women Take Second at Adidas/Notre Dame Invitational

NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- The Notre Dame men's and women's cross country teams faced stiff competition at the adidas/Notre Dame Invitational on Friday as they both took second place. The men finished with 94 points, only five behind first place Eastern Michigan, which finished with 89 points and 59 points in front of third place Ohio State. The women finished with 99 points, a mere two points behind first place Bowling Green, which finished with 97 points and 16 points ahead of third place Utah.

Elly Rono of Southern Indiana took first place honors in the men's division as he finished with a time of 24:10. Junior Antonio Arce was the highest Notre Dame finisher as he finished eighth with a time of 25:00. Ryan Shay continued his strong freshman season at Notre Dame as he placed 11th with a time of 25:05, and Notre Dame All-American Jason Rexing took 20th place with a time of 25:19.

Notre Dame All-American JoAnna Deeter failed in her attempt to become the first woman to repeat as adidas/Notre Dame Invitational champion as she finished in fifth place with a time of 17:40. Lisa Petsche from Edinboro University captured first place as she raced to a time of 17:11. Sophomore Alison Klemmer was the highest Notre Dame finisher after Deeter as she finished in 11th place with a time of 18:00. Mieke Walsh was the other Notre Dame finisher in the top 20 as she ran to a 17th place finish with a time of 18:13.

Men's Top Ten                           Women's Top Ten
1. Elly Rono, S. Indiana        24:10   1. Lisa Petsche, Edinboro       17:11
2. Travis Landreth, UCONN       24:36   2. Erin Jones, Georgia          17:19
3. Nick Aliwell, W. Kentucky    24:40   3. May Perry, Edinboro          17:19
4. Mike Franko, E. Michigan     24:44   4. Masdalena Pastza, Lewis      17:39
5. Duncan Shangase, W. Kentucky 24:49   5. JoAnna Deeter, ND            17:40
6. Morris Giddens, E. Michigan  24:56   6. Kasia Arient, Lewis          17:50
7. Tom Chorny, Indiana          24:59   7. Laura Thomas, Youngstown St. 17:53
8. Antonio Arce, ND             25:00   8. Tiffany Speckman, WI-Oshkosh 17:53
9. Drew Griffen, Georgia        25:00   9. Jessica Lafene, Bowling Green17:56
10. Tom Becker, Duke            25:03   10. Laura Denau, Bowling Green  17:58