Missouri Cross Country Performs Well At NCAA Championships
11/20/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Nov. 20, 2000
AMES, Iowa - The University of Missouri cross country team overcame tough weather conditions to finish the 2000 season with their best showings in five years at the NCAA Championships here Monday morning. The MU women scored 414 points and placed 16th, while the men scored 649 points placing them 27th.
The top scorer for the Tigers was sophomore Kerry Hils (21:50), who finished in 79th place. Rounding out the top-five for Mizzou was senior Katie Meyer (21:51.2) in 82nd place, junior Ann Marie Brooks (21:52.40) in 86th and senior Sunny Gilbert (22:13.4) in 136th.
"This was a great race and a complete team effort from the ladies," said Head Coach Jared Wilmes. "We really packed our scorers in places 79 through 86."
Senior Nick Smith (31:22.5) led the Tiger men as he has all year with a 57th-place performance. Senior Phil Councilor (32:14.8) was the Tigers' number two scorer at 155th. Juniors Ryan Fitzgerald (32:28.6) and Steve Wade (32:33.9) scored in the third and fourth spots, while Adam MacDowell (32:36.5) finished as the number five man for Missouri.
"I am please with the men's performance, especially Phil Councilor. He really stepped up and performed well for us today," said Wilmes.
The Tigers bettered their finishes from last year's performances. The women finished 21st at last year's championships held in Bloomington, Ind., while the men placed 28th in 1999.
"Overall we had tremendous performances on both sides. This team worked hard for a great season and that is all I can ask from them. They are a great bunch of kids," Wilmes remarked.
