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Leon Etches Name in Ohio History
Oct. 13, 2007
Men's Results | Women's Results TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - On Saturday afternoon in Terre Haute, Ind., Craig Leon made history. Leon etched his name into the Ohio cross country record books, recording the second best 8k time in program history. The graduate student from Van Wert, Ohio, finished in 38th place overall with a time of 23:58.00. Leon's time was a full second better than John Mirth's 23:59 set in 1984. Dave Mirth set the school record a year earlier in 1983 with a time of 23:38. "There have been some great runners that have passed through this school and for Craig to have his name near the top of list and record one of the best times in school history is really incredible," head coach Clay Calkins said of Leon. Leon's time led all Bobcats at Pre-Nationals, who finished in 32nd place as a team. Ridge Robinson (Navarre) recorded the second best time for Ohio with a 24:56 mark which earned the sophomore 147th place. After Liberty's Josh McDougal saw his course record beat by the first and second place finishers in the Men's Blue race, McDougal recaptured the title with a first place finish and new course record time of 22:56.40 in the Men's White race. Records also fell in the women's races. Florida State's Susan Kuijken broke the women's 6k course record by nearly six seconds with a time of 19:55.50 in the Women's Blue race but her new mark would be eclipsed just hours later in the Women's White race. Colorado's Jenny Barringer beat Kuijken's record by seven seconds with a time of 19:48.30. Stanford took home the Women's Blue race team trophy while Princeton won the Women's White race team title.
The Ohio women took 21st in the team standings with Kari Summers (Troy) and Carime Reinhart (Boscom) leading the way once again for the `Cats. "They are a great one-two punch for us," Calkins said. Calkins added that he was glad to see the Ohio women finish with better total times than the other MAC team competing in the event, Ball State, which finished five spots behind Ohio in 26th place. Ohio will take a week off to rest before competing exclusively against MAC schools at the conference championships at Central Michigan. Last year the Ohio women's team took first at the MAC Championships with Reinhart taking first overall. ---------------------------- Joe Waltasti is the cross country contact in the Ohio media relations office. He can be reached via email at waltasti@ohio.edu and in the office at 740-593-0054. |
