Lady Raiders Finish Fifth At NCAA Pre-Nationals
October 18, 2014 | Cross Country
Sharlene Nickle and Jocelyn Caro took fifth and sixth place, respectively, to lead the Texas Tech women to a fifth-place team finish at the NCAA Pre-Nationals, on Saturday.
Oct. 18, 2014
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. --The Texas Tech Lady Raider cross country team finished fifth in the final team standings at the NCAA-Pre National Meet, in Terre Haute, Ind., on Saturday.
The women finished fifth out of a loaded field of 33 teams, including Louisville, Washington State and Iowa. Their 251 points put them one point away from fourth place and five points out of third.
The course playing host this weekend, the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course, will also be the site for the 2014 NCAA Cross Country Championships, in Terre Haute, Ind.
As they have been all season, Sharlene Nickle and Jocelyn Caro were the catalysts for Texas Tech in the women's 6,000 meter race. Nickle, fresh off being named Big 12 Runner of the Week after her last performance, took fifth place individually, with a time of 21:46.7. Caro finished on her heels, taking sixth, finishing in 21:47.0.
"It was a great effort by the ladies today," Texas Tech head coach Jon Murray said. "I was proud of how the women's team competed against a tough field on a championship course. Just a great performance today, especially from Sharlene and Jocelyn, who finished well. They passed five runners in the final 600 meters."
Jasmine Torres was the third Lady Raider to cross the finish line, taking 47th, with a time of 22:49.5.
On the men's side, Evans Tuitoek was the first Red Raider to cross the finish line, taking 206th place in a field of 310 runners. He finished the 8,000 meter race in 26:11.6.
Texas Tech finished 45th in the team standings, competing in a field that included Oregon and Colorado--the nation's top two teams.
The Red Raiders will be back in action on Nov. 1, as they start the postseason with the Big 12 Championships, in Lawrence, Kan.
Players Mentioned
