USF Women's Cross Country Finishes Third at USF Invitational

Women's Cross Country Finishes Third at USF Invitational
8/31/2013 2:42:00 PM

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SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco women's cross country team opened up the season with youth guiding the Dons to a third-place finish at the 21st USF Cross Country Invitational at Golden Gate Park's Speedway Meadow.

The Dons were paced by two top-10 finishes, as the team earned 85 team points, coming in behind Stanford and California. Stanford's team win breaks a three-year streak in which the Bears beat out the field for the team title. USF bested West Coast Conference foe BYU for third as the Cougar came in fourth in the race, 11 points behind the Dons.

"They were third overall as a team, and I'm really happy with how our women executed in the race," head coach Helen Lehman-Winters said. "They were buried in the first 800 meters of the race, and they were really disciplined. They did an excellent job over the last two miles of the race to move into the top 10 finishes that Sarah and Daryl and Lily had. I believe the times that Daryl and Lily ran are the fastest times that USF has had a freshman run this course, so they actually surpassed what my expectations were for today, which bodes well."

Freshman Daryl Phill came in at 18:07.8 to lead the Dons and turn in the best time for a freshman on this course and land in seventh in the individual standings. Senior Sarah Pearson crossed the finish line less than a second later to come in eighth for USF. Freshman Lily Engelbrekt completed the course in 18:16.0 to place 13th in her first collegiate competition. The fourth Don to cross the finish line was another freshman, Lauren Wilch, who finished in 19:18.5 to earn 28th overall.

"I think a lot of it is a testament to the program that you rise to the level of the program," Lehman-Winters said. "Those women are coming onto a team that's a very strong team and they're responding really well to it. I think it's great for them individually, but for the future of our program I'm really excited about what they did today and what they can do in the future."

The 2013 race winner, California's Kelsey Santisteban, ran the 5,000 meter course in 17:26.1 to take the title. This marks her second win in the USF Invitational after finishing first in 2011. This marks the first time an individual has won multiple titles at the USF Invitational, male or female. Last year's winner, Aisling Cuffe, finished in third place as Stanford took the team title with the second through sixth finishers coming from Cardinal racers.

"I definitely feel a lot more confident this year. I had solid training over the summer," Santisteban said after her finish. "Last year, I kind of went into it not really knowing what I was doing, but making those steps up to run with the more elite girls. This year, now I have that under my belt and I feel a lot better about myself and I'm ready to go."

The Dons next test is expected to come at the Stanford Invitational Sept. 28.

USF Results:
7. Daryl Phill – 18:07.8
8. Sarah Pearson – 18:08.6
13. Lily Engelbrekt – 18:16.0
28. Lauren Wilch – 19:18.5
29. Kailey Ulland – 19:24.8
32. Hillary Harris – 19:34.2
38. Elizabeth Schultz – 19:45.7