TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Earning the highest finish in the SEC Cross Country Championships in Mississippi State history, Rhianwedd Price finished fourth, leading the Bulldogs to a fifth place-finish.
Price recorded a spot in the Top 5 with a time of 19:53.79, which earned her spot on the Women’s All-SEC first team.
“I was really happy with my performance today,” Price said. “I didn’t go out as hard as I usually do. I tried to stick with the pack and work my way up through. It was our team’s best performance of the season.”
Following Price was Cornelia Griesche with a 21st-place finish (20:44.55). Rounding out MSU’s Top 5 were Lisa Ziegler (25th, 20:51.03), Emma Neigel (60th, 21:38.66) and Jodie McGuff (75th, 21:55.91).
“We went in and ran the best complete team race we have run,” MSU coach Houston Franks said. “Fifth place is a great finish. Our back group did a good job about moving up throughout the race. This race set us up pretty well for the (NCAA) regionals.”
The women finished behind Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Alabama and Missouri.
The men’s team also recorded a Top 10 finish, coming in ninth. The men’s team placed above Florida, Georgia, Vanderbilt and LSU.
Leading the way was senior Damian Roszko with a 14th-place finish (24:54.92) who also earned a spot on the Men’s All-SEC second team.
“Damian did a good job and made all conference which is big for us,” Franks said. “We finally ran better as a team today. Ninth place is not the end result we want or where we want our program to be.
The MSU men’s Top 5 included Curtis Kelly (43rd, 25:37.00), Mathew Dunn (62nd, 26:02.75), Branden Nosker (69th, 26:10.80 and Patrick Monaghan (79th, 26:24.61).
“The group we had out there today worked really well together,” Franks said. “Kelly, our number two guy, has had a bad back this season, but he ran as gutsy a race as he could. Matt Dunn has been a staple for this team this year.”
For more information on MSU cross country, visit www.HailState.com or follow the team on Twitter (@HailStateTF).
Women’s Team Points
1. Arkansas 32 2. Vanderbilt 85 3. Alabama 140 4. Missouri 142 5. Mississippi State 171 6. Texas A&M 187 7. Florida 201 8. Kentucky 215 9. Auburn 217 10. Georgia 222 11. Tennessee 274 12. Ole Miss 348 13. South Carolina 14. LSU 385
Medalist: Dominique Scott 19:22.74 Arkansas
Mississippi State: 4.Rhianwedd Price 19:53.79; 21. Cornelia Griesche 20:44.55; 25. Lisa Ziegler 20:51.03; 60. Emma Neigel 21:38.66; 75. Jodie McGuff 21:55.91; 96. Carmen Brothers 22:32.88; 104. Madison Milhoan 22:48.89; 109. Rachel Caulkins 23:00.53; 115. Mia Meydrich 23:20.64
Men’s Team Points
1. Arkansas 54 2. Ole Miss 60 3. Auburn 77 4. Missouri 87 5. Kentucky 120 6. Alabama 195 7. Tennessee 205 8. Texas A&M 2079. Mississippi State 249 10. Florida 251 11. Georgia 255 12. Vanderbilt 357 13. LSU 361
Medalist: Stanley Kebenei 23:49.27 Arkansas
Mississippi State: 13. Damian Roszko 24.54.91; 43. Curtis Kelly 25:37.00; 62. Mathew Dunn 26:02.75; 69. Branden Nosker 26:10.58; 79. Patrick Monaghan 26:24.61; 87. Andrew Monaghan 26:48.16 ; 94. Matt Weickert 27:04.59
