University of Minnesota Athletics
Carleton College captures Griak Maroon III Women's Race
9/28/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Carleton won the Women's Maroon III Race at the 2002 Roy Griak Invitational edging out conference rival St. Olaf by two points, 79-81.
St. Scholastica senior Desiree Budd won the individual title winning by almost thirty seconds, covering the 5-kilometer course in 18 minutes, 28.8 seconds. St. Olaf senior Megan Daymont finished second in 18:52.1.
In her fourth and final appearance at the Griak, Budd saved her best for last. ?I think I?m still in shock,? said Budd. ?I never expected this. I have been running this race for the past four years and I always wanted to make it into the top 10. To win the event is just an amazing feeling,?
Though they only had one runner place in the top ten, Carlton was able to use their team depth to claim the title. Senior Laura Bloedorn led the Knights with a fifth-place finish, posting a time of 19:17.0.
?Wow. Obviously I?m very excited about winning,? said Carleton women's head coach Donna Ricks. ?We knew coming in that we wanted to be in the top three. We felt like we were one of the stronger teams in this division (of the Griak). Our team did a terrific job out there.?
The final team result came to Carleton's fifth, sixth and seventh runners placing ahead of St. Olaf's fifth and final scoring competitor. ?They were really helping each other on the course and on the hills. They worked together and ran the middle of the course together. That made the difference.?