Kneis, Smithers, pace Panthers at D3 West Regionals
SALEM, Ore. – Chapman University freshmen Kelly Kneis and D.J. Smithers were the program's top finishers at the NCAA Division III West Regional Cross Country Championships hosted by Willamette University on Saturday in Salem, Ore.
Kneis and sophomore Jessie Drews each set season best times in the 6-kilometer race for Chapman on the women's side. Kneis finished in 115th out of 120 runners with a time of 27:13.82, topping her previous time by 47 seconds while Drews finished in 119th with a time of 29:01.35 which was nearly a 40 second improvement for her. Freshman Elisabeth Mitchell and senior Kirsten Moore finished in 118th and 119th, respectively.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps won the overall women's regional title with an average time of 22:52.33 while Pomona-Pitzer's Annie Lydens won the individual title with a time of 21:51.84.
For the men, Smithers continued his solid running of late, completing his fourth-straight race as the Panthers' top finisher. Smithers finished in 106th overall with a time of 28:57.77 in the 8-kilometer, followed by sophomore Zac Campbell (29:42.79), freshman Kevin Tatlock (29:43.27) and sophomore Angel Flores (31:57.79).
Host school Willamette University won the overall men's championship with a combined time of 25:55.71 while Colorado College's Jackson Brainerd finished in first with a time of 25:23.17.
by Chris Watts
Sports Information Assistant
West Regional Results: http://chapman.prestosports.com/sports/xc/2010-11/files/D3Regionals.pdf