University of Missouri
NCAA Championships
Jeffries Finishes in Top Half of National Field
11/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Nov. 24, 2008
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Missouri senior Garett Jeffries (St. Louis, Mo.) competed Monday in the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. Jeffries placed 95th overall in the 254-man field in shaving 30 seconds off his personal best to clock 30:52.3 in the 10-kilometer race.
Jeffries and the championship field had to brave near-freezing temperatures and a brisk wind throughout the race. Rain last night made the course soft, but not muddy.
“I thought Garett ran well,” said Head Coach Jared Wilmes. “He put himself a great position to move up the standings as the race progressed, and he finished above a lot of the guys who beat him at regionals. He walked away from this race feeling good about his final collegiate (cross country) race.”
Galen Rupp of Oregon held off Liberty sophomore Samuel Chelanga to win his first national title. The Ducks also claimed the team title, placing its top three scorers in the overall top 10. Oklahoma State took eighth as a team and was the top-finishing Big 12 team.
On the women's side, Texas Tech's Sally Kipyego became the first women in NCAA history to win a third, national cross country title. Washington topped Oregon for the team title. Texas Tech placed seventh as the Big 12's top team.
The 2008 cross country season has now concluded. The Mizzou track and field season will begin its indoor season in a few weeks. The Black & Gold Intrasquad meet is slated for Wednesday, December 10 in the Hearnes Fieldhouse. A handful of Tigers will also compete Saturday, December 13 at the KSU All-Comers in Manhattan, Kan.
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Players Mentioned
