ECU\'s Koby Styles headed back to nationals

WARRENSBURG, Mo. (Saturday, Nov. 4, 20060 – The 21st-ranked East Central University men's cross country team came up short on its bid of returning to nationals on Saturday.

However, senior Koby Styles will be going back after posting a sixth-place finish and clocking in at 31:56.50 on the 10-kilometer course in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional at the University of Central Missouri.

Only four Abilene Christian runners and Cameron's David Chirchir finished ahead of Styles. As usual, ACU's Nicodemus Naimadu set the pace with a time of 31:34.40, just over 22 seconds ahead of Styles. Chirchi edged out Styles for fifth place with a 31:46.20.

The Tigers'next-best finish came from John Sutrick, who clocked in at 33:20.00 for 26th place. Teammate Josh Stewart was 30th with a 33:27.40 for 30th place, Kolin Styles finished in 33:46.60 for 35th place, and Jacob Bussell ended up in 51st place with a time of 34:44.20.

Also running for ECU were: Wade Floyd, 55th place in 34:53.30 and Matt Appelman in 66th with a 35:07.00.

ACU claimed the team title with a score of 18, followed by Missouri Southern (73), host Central Missouri (100), Fort Hays State (131), ECU (147), Southwest Baptist (188), Northwest Missouri State (197), Truman State (203), Angelo State (226), Emporia State (247), Pittsburg State (262), St. Edward's (340), Eastern New Mexico (341), Dallas Baptist (382), Cameron (393), Incarnate Word (420) and Montana State-Billings (458).

WOMEN

The Lady Tigers ended up 11th out of 19 teams in the 6k women's race.

ECU's best effort once again came from Betty Hernandez, who clocked in at 22:47.60.

Truman State's Jacquie Faust set the pace with a 22:00.80, which was two seconds ahead of Southwestern Oklahoma State's Rachel Ingram (22:02.80).

The Lady Tigers' Alex Kirkpatrick was 56th overall with a time of 24:02.90, followed by teammates Angela Ingram, 78th in 24:55.00; Valerie Navarro, 85th in 25:18.50; Robin Baker, 100th in 26:01.80; Sarah Brunk, 103rd in 26:12.40; and Amie Schmidt in 119th in 27:33.90.

Abilene Christian also took top honors in the women's race with a score of 71, followed by Pittsburg State (99), Central Missouri (125), Missouri Southern (130), Southwest Baptist (131), Angelo State (157), Fort Hays State (163), Central Oklahoma (209), West Texas A&M (274), Northwest Missouri State (292), ECU (307), Emporia State (309), Texas A&M-Commerce (354), Montana State -Billings (386), Eastern New Mexico (387), Incarnate Word (432), Dallas Baptist (435), St. Mary's (479) and Southeastern Oklahoma State (570).