Wake Forest University
Relays
Cross Country Women Capture First Place In The Season Opener
9/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Sept. 1, 2004
The men's and women's cross country teams hosted Duke and High Point in the Demon Deacon season opener Wednesday evening. Wake Forest women took first place, while the men placed second. The Demon Deacon duo of Caitlin Chrisman and Anne Bersagel captured first place, with a combined time of 34:45 on the 10.2k course. Sean Stevens and Brian Smith led the Deacon men with a 45:41 mark for the 14.8k trek, good for a fourth place finish overall. "I think the men really showed some character and class this evening," said head coach Annie Bennett. "We've challenged them so far this season to do that and they really pulled through tonight." Stevens offered the only top-5 finish by a Deacon, with a combined time of 22:38. He and partner Brian Smith placed fourth overall. Shane Alhers and Kevin Jones were close behind, in fifth place with a 45:53 time. The Wake Forest women clinched first place with the best combined three pair score of 1:46:08. Chrisman and Bersagel, Erin Franklin and Michelle Sikes, and Jill Miller and Hanna Bremler contributed scores for the Deacons. Shannon Rowbury (unaffiliated) posted the best combined two leg time, 16:31. Wake Forest senior All-American Anne Bersagel finished with a 16:57. Michelle Sikes was third overall with a 17:24. "The women had some shining moments tonight," said Bennett. "But we still have to take more risks during the race, some of the athletes were more on the conservative side this time." The Duke men took home a victory, with an overall team time of 2:16:08. The Blue Devil women placed second with a 1:47:24 mark. High Point finished third in both divisions, with a 2:18:29 total time for the men, and a 1:56:54 total for the women. The Demon Deacon cross country teams return to action on Saturday, September 11 when they host the Wake Forest Invitational. The women will start at 10:00 a.m., followed by a men's start at 10:45 a.m.
