TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Jessica Eldridge proved to be one to watch at the upcoming NCAA National Cross Country Championships with her impressive performance today.
The University of Oklahoma junior placed 12th in the "blue" race at the Indiana State Pre-National Invitational Saturday, Oct. 14.
Eldridge ran the 6,000-meter course at the Wabash Valley Sports Center in 20 minutes, 33 seconds, finishing 16 seconds behind race winner Michelle Sikes of Wake Forest and just five seconds out of a top-five result in the highly competitive field.
No. 1-ranked Stanford dominated the women's "blue" race, placing four runners in the top 10 to score 45 points. Minnesota was second with 200. The Sooners placed 21st in the field of 36.
Catherine Odell was the second Sooner to cross the finish line. Odell paced a trio with a 103rd-place run in 21:43; Ashley Storm was 112th in 21:46; Aja Clark was 118th in 21:48; and Kristi Cook finished 172nd in 22:21.
Eldridge, a Broken Arrow native, qualified for the national cross country championships in 2003 and 2004. She looks to continue her streak of qualifying for the NCAAs in each season, cross country or track and field, she has competed (she redshirted the 2005 cross country and outdoor track seasons).
The "white" race was won by North Carolina State , led by Julia Lucas' (20:02) individual victory. The pre-national event, which included 73 complete Division I women's teams, was split into two races.
OU returns to action Friday, Oct. 27, for the Big 12 Championships hosted by the University of Kansas at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence