Lady'Backs Fifth at Griak Invite

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Senior Alison (Zeinner) Rush was once again the top competitor for the 16th-ranked University of Arkansas cross country team in a jam packed field at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, Minn., as she led the Lady Razorbacks to a fifth-place team finish in what could be Arkansas’ toughest competition of the season.

For Rush, her top finish for the Lady Razorbacks is the second time she has crossed the line ahead of her teammates in two races as she continues to lead by example on a veteran Arkansas team. Finishing 18th overall, Rush earned 17 points toward Arkansas’ team score of 189. Sophomore Kristina Smith continued her strong season as she finished 34th overall, earning 32 points, to be the Lady’Backs second finisher.

“I thought that we finished right where I would have liked,” Arkansas head coach Lance Harter said. “I said going in that I would be happy with a top five finish and that is what we got. Alison is running really well right now and looked great today. If we can get our entire team running a little closer to Alison, then we will certainly be a team to watch down the road.”

Rounding out Arkansas’ top five were juniors Laura Jakosky and Shiloh Whiting, with redshirt freshman Tiffany Redlarczyk taking fifth. The Arkansas quintet averaged 22 minutes, 14 seconds for the 6,000-meter race. Second-ranked Providence led the way with an astonishing 58 points followed by #22 Arizona State (81), UC-Santa Barbara (145) and Baylor (169). In what was a meeting of some of the nation’s top squads, Arkansas upset eighth-ranked Princeton with the effort.

Other Lady Razorback finishers included Maureen Scott (54), Jessie Gordon (63), Sarah Saffa (88), Laura Kerr (97), Lea Carruthers (131) and Beth Fahey (166).

For more information about Lady Razorback cross country or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.