Texas A&M
Lobo Invitational
Three Aggies place among top 10 at Lobo Invitational
Sep 04, 2010 | Track and Field
Sept. 4, 2010
ALBUQUERQUE, NM - A trio of Aggie cross country runners placed among the top 10 during the Lobo Invitational hosted by the University of New Mexico on its North Golf Course amid perfect conditions Saturday morning.
MacLean O'Donnell led the Texas A&M men with a fifth-place effort as he covered the 8,000-meter course in 25 minutes, 16.7 seconds. The Aggie women were paced by Katherine Devlin and Natosha Rogers, who finished sixth and eighth in the 5,000-meter race, with times of 17:44.5 and 17:45.4.
New Mexico had the top men's finisher in Rory Fraser (24:31.4) while UTEP's Risper Kimaiyo (17:00.4) claimed the women's race. The meet, which included host New Mexico, New Mexico State and UTEP, was not team scored.
Returning members of the A&M men's squad comprised the top six runners, as the group finished with under a minute separation in time.
Albuquerque native Kevin Burnett was the second Aggie through the finish line as he clocked 25:35.9 for 15th place. Will Barry claimed 18th place in 25:47.0 while Jimmy Welin recorded a 25:59.0 in 25th.
"For my first race it felt really good, and it was actually awesome through the first 5,000 meters," said O'Donnell, who trailed teammate Burnett at the first couple of mile splits and then moved ahead after they were even at mile three. "Competing here is a good fitness test. It definitely showed that we are ready to roll this season.
"Our top six guys were only separated by a minute. To compete at altitude and have everyone compete that well in the first meet is a positive sign."
Chad Brown (26:10.7) and newcomer Ryan Miller (26:20.5).
Also competing for A&M were the freshman tandem of Dylan Williams (40th - 26:36.8) and Austin Geerts (41st - 26:44.7).
Devlin, who was the top Aggie female finisher at last year's South Central Region meet, noted: "I was pleased my effort and the rest of the team. Having Natosha with me the whole race probably made the biggest difference, especially at the end as we raced to stay in the top 10.
"Having this meet open the season for us was probably the best situation we could have been put in. Running at altitude and making our lungs hurt, then next week we will have a fast, flat course when we run at home."
Following the solid efforts of Devlin and Rogers, the next pair of A&M women to finish the race was Itzel Cetina and Amanda Jenkins. Cetina placed 24th in 18:57.9 as Jenkins finished 25th at 19:03.6.
Gabby Salazar led the Aggie newcomers in placing 28th with a time of 19:10.3. Sophie Blake (19:42.6) and Kasey McNorton (19:44.1) finished in tandem, placing 33rd and 34th, while Colbea Harris (20:03.6) placed 36th.
The next competition for the squad is on Friday, Sept.10, as they host the Texas A&M Invitational at the Penberthy Intramural Fields. The first high school race starts at 5:30 p.m. while the women's collegiate race begins at 6:20 p.m. and the men's collegiate race is set for 7:35 p.m.
Players Mentioned
