web Charlotte

Oct. 31, 2009

 

Women's Team Results  
Women's Individual Results   
Men's Team Results
Men's Individual Results   

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Charlotte 49ers women’s cross country team took runner-up honors for the second consecutive year at the Atlantic 10 Championship, while the men’s team finished in seventh place. Amada Goetschius was Charlotte’s top finisher by taking second place for the women and Adu Dentamo took fourth place for the men. The championship meet was dampened by a course that was extremely muddy due to large amount of rain in the St. Louis area during the week.

The course resembled a horse race track with mud throughout and nearly 18 inches deep in some spots. The men’s times suffered on average two and a half minutes slower in the mud, while the women’s times were 90 seconds to two minutes slower than average.

“The course didn’t test anyone’s fitness, but more focused on who compete in several conditions and it was the hardest I’ve seen in my career due to the conditions,” mentioned Ed Schlichter of the course.

The women’s squad finished with 98 points and 26 behind A-10 Champion Dayton, who finished with 72. This is the second consecutive year in which Charlotte has finished in second place. All of Charlotte’s runners finished in the top-30 in the race. The men’s squad finished with 171 points as Saint Joseph’s claimed the conference championship with 56 points.

“Our women had a solid day by placing second in the team division and lost to a good Dayton team. I definitely feel like we could’ve won today, but, it just wasn’t meant to be,” said Schlichter. “We are going to make some adjustments and put together a memorable performance at the NCAA Regional.”

On the women’s side four Charlotte runners finished from 22nd place to 27th with Sarah Willingham taking 22nd, Keara Thomas placing 23rd and Kristin Mitchell in 24th place, while Laura McCary took 27th. Also running in the race for Charlotte was Janet Barry in 40th place and Christina Hobbs in 65th place.

“I was really proud of how Amanda toughed it out and held on for the second place finish. A lot of athletes could have chosen to give up when they show up to a less than ideal race scenario, but I give the credit to our team, each and every one of them stayed positive till the end.”

Goetschius became Charlotte’s ninth women’s runner to garner all-conference honors three times and the first since Aja Jackson (2005-2008).

Standout senior Dentamo secured his fourth All-Atlantic 10 honors with his fourth place showing, a feat that has only been accomplished by one other Charlotte men’s runner, Vince Sherry (1998-2002).

“Adu was in the hunt throughout the race for the title, but in the end the conditions were just too difficult for us to run our best,” stated Schlichter. “I have all the confidence in him putting on a great show at the NCAA Regional in two weeks time.”

Dentamo was followed by Dakota Lowery in 39th place and Will Taylor in 40th place. Chase Eckard finished behind Taylor in 41st place and Daniel Stiefvater capped the 49ers top-five in 47th place. Also placing for Charlotte was Ross Roberson in 57th place and Brian McGuire in 67th place.

Charlotte’s focus will now turn to the NCAA Southeast Regional in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, November 14th. Last year, Charlotte had two All-Region performers in the meet as Dentamo and Goetschius finished 14th and 8th to become the 49ers first all-region members since Cassie Ficken in 2005.

“We have the potential to do big things at the region meet and hopefully the course will allow us to run our kind of race,” stated Schlichter of the upcoming meet. “There is so much we can take away from this meet, especially since it has left us so hungry.”