Oct. 30, 2004

Men's Results (HTML Format) | Women's Results (HTML Format)

Men's Results (PDF Format) | Women's Results (PDF Format)

TOPEKA, Kan.--Colorado swept the 2004 Big 12 Cross Country Championships, winning both the men's and women's team championships as well as the women's individual title, with Kansas taking the men's individual crown. Kansas State University hosted the championship Saturday at the Stateland Cross Country Course in Topeka, Kan.

Kansas' Benson Chesang, 2004 Big 12 Men's Cross Country Individual Champion

Renee Metivier (Colorado) and Benson Chesang (Kansas) claimed the individual championships. Colorado has won every men's Big 12 cross country championship since the conference's inception in 1996. The women have won all but one of the last eight conference crowns.

"We didn't run great on the men's side, Colorado's head coach Mark Wetmore said. "Maybe we overlooked the race a little. Some told me that their legs were weary. Maybe I pushed them a little too hard earlier in the week. Traditionally, our opponents run their best races of the year at this meet, and we've come to expect that of the competition."

"Brent Vaughn defeated him two weeks ago, and lost to him today," Coach Wetmore said about Chesang's win. "They are two of the best runners in the country. They are both back for two more years. We will see some big time duels between those two."

In the men's race, Chesang took the lead at the four-kilometer mark and fought off second-place finisher, CU's Brent Vaughn (24:08.82), to claim the title. Chesang finished the 8,000-meter course in 24:07.43. Kansas State's Mathew Chesang came in four seconds behind Vaughn for a third-place finish (24:12.90) followed by Colorado's Bret Schoolmeester in fourth (24:36.16).

Colorado's Renee Metivier, 2004 Big 12 Women's Cross Country Individual Champion.

"It's good to win this race," said Chesang. "It's good to break the dominance of Colorado, who seems to win every year."

On the women's side, Metivier led a one, two, three CU sweep, helping the Buffs earn their sixth-consecutive Big 12 team and individual titles. Metivier completed the 6,000-meter course in 20:28.05 followed by teammates Sara Slattery (21:08.97) and Christine Bolf (21:13.83). Oklahoma State's Mary Davies came in fourth with a time of 21:24.35.

"It was a team effort," said Metivier. Our team worked well together today. Our team's synergy was here. It motivated all of us to do our best."

All-Big 12 honors went to the top 15 finishers in both the men's and women's events.

Texas' Mark Nichols was the men's Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, while Oklahoma State's Davies claimed the women's honor. Both were the top finishing runners in their respective races in their first season competing in the Big 12 Conference.

2004 BIG 12 CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Stateland Cross Country Course (Topeka, Kan.)

Men's Team Scores: 1. Colorado 48 points; 2. Texas 63; 3. Oklahoma State 108; 4. Kansas 116; 5. Missouri 157; 6. Iowa State 173; 7. Baylor 212; 8. Kansas State 230; 9. Oklahoma 231; 10. Texas Tech 262; 11. Texas A&M 279; 12. Nebraska 312.

Top 15 men's finishers (All-Big 12 honorees): 1. Benson Chesang, KU, 24:07.43; 2. Brent Vaughn, CU, 24:08.82; 3. Mathew Chesang, KSU, 24:12.90; 4. Bret Schoolmeester, CU, 24:36.16; 5. Mark Nichol, UT, 24:49.77; 6. Tim Ross, MU, 24:52.98; 7. Grant Shadden, ISU, 24:53.68; 8. Bo Price, BU, 24:54.72; 9. Jon Severy, CU, 24:55.94; 10. Scott Rantall, OSU, 24:58.11; 11. Andrew Middleton, UT, 24:59.00; 12. Haron Lagat, TT, 24:59.52; 13. Matthew Munoz, UT, 24:59.82; 14. Jonathan Von Letsher, UT, 25:00.41; 15. Matt Noonan, MU, 25:04.66.

Women's Team Scores: 1. Colorado 25 points; 2. Missouri 59; 3. Oklahoma State 75; 4. Baylor 127; 5. Texas A&M 164; 6. Texas Tech 174; 7. Oklahoma 185; 8. Kansas State 205; 9. Nebraska 235; 10. Kansas 251; 11. Iowa State 291; 12. Texas 299.

Top 15 women's finishers (All-Big 12 honorees): 1. Renee Metivier, CU, 20:28.05; 2. Sara Slattery, CU, 21:08.97; 3. Christine Bolf, CU, 21:13.83; 4. Barbora Kuncova, OSU, 21:24.35; 5. Mary Davies, OSU, 221:32.79; 6. Amanda Bales, MU, 21:33.12; 7. Serena Ramsey, MU, 21:36.57; 8. Jill Petersen, MU, 21:41.73; 9. Natalie Florence, CU, 21:46.93; 10. Liza Pasciuto, CU, 21:49.20; 11. Amber Smith, CU, 21:52.99; 12. Jessica Eldridge, OU, 21:54.53; 13. Brittany Brockman, BU, 21:55.93; 14. Michelle Prowse, OSU, 21:56.89; 15. Anne Shadle, NU, 22:01.82.

2004 Big 12 Men's and Women's Cross Country Champions, University of Colorado. Courtesy of Colorado Media Relations.