GOLDEN SUNS FINISH 11TH OUT OF 24 TEAMS AT THIS YEAR'S
BROOKS MEMPHIS TWILIGHT CROSS COUNTRY CLASSIC

        MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Arkansas Tech Women’s Cross Country opened its 2009 season here Saturday evening at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex by finishing 11th out of 24 teams and third among non NCAA Division I schools at the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic hosted by Christian Brothers University.

Tech, who is ranked fourth in the Preseason USTFCCCA NCAA D-II South Region poll, scored 255 points to finish six points behind 10th place Hendrix College and 64 points in front of 12th place Montevallo. In addition, Tech was the third highest finisher among the 12 non-NCAA Division I team competing as Harding (91 points) finished in second place and Hendrix finished in 10th place.

Samford [AL] University took home this year’s team title as they scored 47 points. Following Harding was San Jose State (117 points) in third and Arkansas State (148 points) in fourth place.

While Tech finished 11th overall, freshman Bailee Miller (Dover, Ark.) ran the 5,000-meter course in a time of 18:23 to finish in third place overall, but first place among competing runners as the top two finishers were unattached runners.

“I’m really impressed with the way Bailee ran tonight. For a freshman to come in and win her first-ever collegiate meet, that is impressive,” Golden Suns Head Coach Tom Aspel said. “I also liked the way our team ran as we had all of our runners finish in the Top 100.”

In addition to Miller, senior Melissa Pollreis (Gravette, Ark.), one of Tech’s two returning First-Team All-Gulf South Conference selections from a year ago, ran a time of 19:40 to finish in 32nd place overall, while junior Michelle Pollreis (Gravette, Ark.) ran a time of 20:49 to finish in 74th place overall. Junior Lauren Karnitz (DeSoto, Kan.), the other returning First-Team All-GSC honoree from 2008, ran the course in a time of 20:54 to finish in 77th place overall, while sophomore Jenna Siebenmorgen (Fort Smith, Ark.) ran a time of 21:22 to finish in 92nd place and junior Stormi Richardson (Lumberton, Texas) ran a time of 21:59 to finish in 106th place overall in her first-ever collegiate cross country meet.

Tech will return to action next Friday, Sept. 11, when they host the 2nd-Annual Tech Twilight Meet in Russellville beginning at 6:30 p.m. The meet will begin and end at Tucker Coliseum on the Tech campus.

TECH WOMEN – INDIVIDUAL

Place         Name                        Time       Team Points

          3               Bailee Miller                 18:23               1

          32             Melissa Pollreis            19:40               29

          74             Michelle Pollreis           20:49               69

          77             Lauren Karnitz            20:54               72

          92             Jenna Siebenmorgen   21:22              84

             Complete 2009 Brooks Memphis Twilight Results

           -- Tech Athletics --