From ORU Sports Information
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-The Oral Roberts cross country teams faced tough competition, Saturday and despite setting a number of personal bests they each finished eighth in the team races at the Richard Clark Invitational, hosted by Missouri State. Wichita State claimed the team championship on the women’s side with 29 points, as well as on the men’s side with 23. ORU’s women scored 206 points, while the men’s team posted 211 points, both finishing eighth in the team race.
The women, all of whom improved their respective times from the first meet of the season, were led by Samantha Watson as she crossed the finish line in 19:13, 14th overall. Erin Roberson’s time of 20:50 put her in 48th, while Casady Ashcraft dropped more than a minute off her time from two weeks ago to finish 52nd overall with a time of 21:11.
In her second collegiate race, Megan Denzin dropped nearly three minutes off her time, running 21:28 for 57thoverall. Marrisa Thomas’ time of 23:46 put her in 77th, just ahead of teammate Hayley Monforton, who competed in her first collegiate race, finishing 78th in 24:10.
Jonathan Harper led the men with a time of 27:03 over the 8k course to finish 32nd, while David Batchelder, who led the team in the first meet of the year, finished 50th at 27:37. Leif Peterson was close behind in 52nd, running 27:41, while Ryan Masey ran 27:59 to claim 59th overall, both career bests for the sophomores.
Rounding out the ORU finishers on the men’s side were Kevin Diaz (31:30) and Michael Mudukuti (33:20), who finished 88th and 89th, respectively. It was the first 8k race of the season for the men.
Both teams will be back in action on September 29 as they head to one of the largest cross country meets in the country, the Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Okla.
Women’s Individual Results
14-Samantha Watson-19:13
48-Erin Roberson – 20:50
52-Casady Ashcraft – 21:11
57-Megan Denzin-21:28
77-Marrisa Thomas – 23:46
78-Hayley Monforton – 24:10
Women’s Team Results
1. Wichita State – 29
2. Central Missouri – 84
3. Missouri State – 98
4. UMKC – 104
5. Maryville – 119
6. Drury – 145
7. McKendree – 193
8. Oral Roberts – 206
9. Missouri S&T – 211
10. Lincoln – 315
Men’s Individual Results
32-Jonathan Harper-27:03
50-David Batchelder – 27:37
52-Leif Peterson – 27:41
59-Ryan Masey-27:59
88-Kevin Diaz-31:30
39-Michael Mudukuti-33:20
Men’s Team Results
1. Wichita State – 23
2. UMKC – 48
3. Drury – 101
4. Missouri S&T-120
5. McKendree – 149
6. Central Missouri – 153
7. Maryville – 184
8. Oral Roberts – 21
Blake Freeland is the Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations at Oral Roberts University.
