Cheserek Leads #3 Oregon Men to Win in Bill Dellinger Invitational
The Ducks won their 2014 season opener with 20 points, followed by Michigan State with 46, American with 80 and Portland State with 106.
(EUGENE, Ore. ) — Defending NCAA Champion Edward Cheserek led the third-ranked Men of Oregon to a big win Friday at the ninth annual Bill Dellinger Invitational, run on a hot afternoon on Pre’s Trail in Alton Baker Park.
The Ducks won their 2014 season opener with 20 points, followed by Michigan State with 46, American with 80 and Portland State with 106.
In the women’s race No. 6 Michigan State used a strong push in the middle of the race to win with 20 points. Portland was second with 46 points, No. 3 Oregon took third with 68 points, Oregon State was fifth with 120 points and Portland State was fifth with 131 points.
How It Happened:
Oregon sent a large group of runners to the lead early in the men’s competition and never relinquished control. Cheserk won the 8,000 meter race in 24:24, with teammate Matthew Melancon second in 24:26 as the Ducks placed eight runners in the top 11.
Likewise, the Spartans dominated the women’s lead pack, going 1-2-3 and finishing five runners in the top eight. Rachele Schulist won the 6,000 meter race in 19:38, with Spartan teammate and NCAA 3,000 meter steeplechase champion Leah O’Connor second in 19:53.
What It Means:
An NCAA trophy hopeful come November, the Men of Oregon showed not only their strength, but also their depth with three newcomers among the team’s top nine. Freshman Travis Neuman was fourth overall in 24:31, senior Eric Jenkins, a transfer from Northeastern, took eighth in 24:40, and freshman Sam Prakel ran ninth in 24:43. Seniors Daniel Winn (fourth) and Jeramy Elkaim (10th) were also among the top 10.
On the women’s side, Michigan State looked to be every bit the team that Flotrack and others are slotting as a frontrunner for an NCAA title in November. The Duck women will not be satisfied with the final result, but can take solace in senior Lindsay Crevoiserat’s best race in an Oregon singlet, as she took seventh in 20:23. Sophomore Maggie Schmaedick also battled through the warm conditions to place 13th in 20:47 with freshman Alli Cash two spots behind her in 20:51. Beyond the results, the Ducks held out a number of runners, including 2013’s top performer Megan Patrignelli, two additional NCAA Championships runners in Annie Leblanc and Mia Elbon, and highly touted freshmen Sarah Baxter and Frida Berge.
Odds and Ends:
Friday marked the fourth consecutive cross country race won by Cheserek and his first Dellinger crown…other Ducks running for the first time in an Oregon singlet included Brianna Nerud, Nikki Hiltz and Kelly O’Neill for the women and Chris Mulverhill, Bryan Fernandez and Jackson Darland for the men.
What’s Next:
Battle in Beantown, Sept. 26, Boston, Mass.
Quoteworthy:
“That was a lot of fun. They executed well. We wanted to get about five guys in the top-ten, and it was really good to see them all running together. All in all, I like where we’re at, but we’ve got a ways to go,” Oregon associate head coach Andy Powell on the Men of Oregon.
“I’m so glad that I have Rachele (Schulist) because she is the bomb at getting through the grind of races. When it gets really hard, that’s when she shines,” Michgan State’s Leah O’Connor, on teammate and 2014 Dellinger women’s champion Rachele Schulist.
Source: goducks.com
