MITCHELL EARNS ALL-BIG SKY HONORS AT CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Sacramento State senior Rachel Mitchell recorded the best finish by a Hornet in school history at the Big Sky Cross Country Championships on Saturday. Mitchell finished third in the women's 3-mile race and helped the Hornets to a fourth-place team finish. The Sacramento State men were seventh.

Mitchell completed the race in 17:06.5, finishing 12.3 seconds behind Summer Harper of Weber State who finished first in 16:54.2. Heather Demorest of Montana State was second at 17:02.1. Mitchell's finish earned her first team all-Big Sky Conference honors. The previous best finish by a Sacramento State student-athlete in the meet was a fifth-place showing by Melissa Madeson in 2000.

Chloe Berlioux was second on the team and 12th overall after running 17:26.5 Berlioux also moves into the top 10 in school history for Big Sky finishes in 10th place. Lauren Mugnaini was 26th overall in 17:54.3 and fellow senior Veronica Stinnett ran 18:07/5 to place 39th. Stephanie Rasmussen completed the scorers by placing 44th in 18:11.8.

Weber State won its third consecutive team title with 55 total points. Northern Arizona was second with 64 while host Montana State scored 101 to place third. Sacramento State (124) was trailed by Southern Utah (139) to complete the top five.

In the men's race, Reesey Byers led the team by running 25:57.43 over the 5-mile course to place 24th. Domenic D'Acquisto was close behind, finishing 26th in 25:59.37.

Daniel Mitchell and Cole Younger completed the scorers for the team. Mitchell finished in 38th place with a time of 26:36.02. Younger placed 47th in 26:58.07.

Northern Arizona and Southern Utah held to plan and pulled away from the rest of the field. NAU, which entered the meet ranked second nationally, had the top three individual finishers and scored 25 points to win the seventh-consecutive time. Southern Utah was second with 39 points, well ahead of third-place Montana State (89). Weber State (114), Eastern Washington (137) and Idaho State (176) all finished ahead of the Hornets (190).

Matt McElroy edged teammate Brian Shrader by .09 seconds to win the individual title.

Sacramento State is slated to compete at the Doc Adams Invitational at UC Davis next weekend. The team will then host the NCAA West Regional at Haggin Oaks Golf Course on Friday, Nov. 15.

2013 BIG SKY CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHPS
Women's Results (3-Mile)
1. Weber State 55
2. Northern Arizona 64
3. Montana State 101
4. SACRAMENTO STATE 124
5. Southern Utah 139
6. Montana 177
7. Eastern Washington 181
8. Northern Coloardo 193
9. Portland State 226
10. North Dakota 232
11. Idaho State 224

Individual Top Five
1. Summer Harper, WSU, 16:54.2
2. Heather Demorest, MSU, 17:02.1
3. Rachel Mitchell, SAC, 17:06.5
4. Rikki Gonzales, UNC, 17:09.4
5. Erin Wysocki, UND, 17:14.4

Sacramento State Finishers
3. Rachel Mitchell 17:06.5
12. Chloe Berlioux 17:26.5
26. Lauren Mugnaini 17:54.3
39. Veronica Stinnett 18:07.5
44. Stephanie Rasmussen 18:11.8
50. Emily Johnston 18:19.8
69. Teresa Mallory 19:00.6
82. Morgan Dampier 19:42.1
Men's Team Scores (5-Mile)
1. Northern Arizona 25
2. Southern Utah 39
3. Montana State 89
4. Weber State 114
5. Eastern Washington 137
6. Idaho State 176
7. SACRAMENTO STATE 190
8. North Dakota 219
9. Montana 222
10. Portland State 249
11. Northern Colorado 358

Individual Top Five
1. Matt McElory, NAU, 24:32.19
2. Brian Shrader, NAU, 24:32.28
3. Nathan Weitz, NAU, 24:38.01
4. Ryan Barrus, SUU, 24:38.04
5. Mike Tate, SUU, 24:51.02

Sacramento State Finishers
24. Reesey Byers 25:57.43
26. Domenic D'Acquisto 25:59.37
38. Daniel Mitchell 26:36.02
47. Cole Younger 26:58.07
55. Drew Azevedo 27:11.96
66. Nathanael Litwiller 27:57.37
74. Mustafa Abbas 29:22.77