Sept. 23, 2006
HANOVER, Ala. - The UCF cross country teams battled the heat and tough competition to finish in the top five at the Great American Cross Country Festival at Spain Park Sports Complex on Saturday morning.
The Golden Knight men took fifth place after junior Dustin Hicks (Oviedo HS), senior Brent White (Boynton Beach, Fla./Santaluces HS) and Paul Nielsen (Oviedo HS) placed in the top 25. Junior Paul Fitzpatrick (Ocala, Fla./Vanguard HS) and senior Ryan White (Boynton Beach, Fla./Santaluces HS) also scored for UCF.
Behind freshman Jenny Clausen's (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial HS) top 25 effort, the UCF women tied with South Carolina, Clemson and Samford for fourth place in their race. Also scoring for the Golden Knights were juniors Allison Palmer, Karen Kozub and Elizabeth Miller and sophomore Jamie Rzepecki.
"We had some very impressive individual performances and some gutsy race efforts despite the 90-degree heat," said UCF head coach Marcia Mansur-Wenworth. "The athletes ran tough and raced well."
Central Michigan won the men's event, while UAB upset No. 5 Brigham Young for the women's title. Official times and point totals were not yet available.
The Golden Knights return to action at the Fla. Runners Invitational in Dade City, Fla. on Sept. 29. For the latest news and information on the Golden Knights, tickets or apparel log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF athletics.