ISU Runners Take Top Honors

Saturday, September 9

Ames, Iowa

10:00 AM

Iowa State

ISU Open

09.08.2006 | Cross Country, Cross Country (M) OLD

By: Iowa State University

AMES, Iowa--Sophomores Lisa Koll and Kiel Uhl led the Iowa State cross country teams by taking first in the women's and men's race, respectively, at the ISU Open Saturday morning held at the ISU Cross Country Course in Ames, Iowa.

Uhl, running unattached for the Cyclones, finished the 8K course in 24:58.8 to take first place. Behind him finished six more competitors for ISU. Guor Majak and David Rotich, finished in the second and third spots, respectively.

Uhl said he felt relaxed going out and worked on some different areas compared to last weekend at the Bulldog Classic.

“I tried to make this a little closer to a race than last weekend,” Uhl said. “We went out pretty easy and then picked up in the last two miles or so just to simulate a race at the end.”

Men's head coach Corey Ihmels was pleased with the results of the ISU Open today and is confident about the depth his team is showing.

“The guys went out relaxed and moved through the field well.” Ihmels said. “We're in a good spot right now, but we've got a lot of work to do before the end of the year. We've got the most depth we've had since I've been here. Obviously Kiel, Guor and David have spots 1, 2 and 3, but 4 through 9 are all interchangeable, and I thought today they all stepped up to the plate and ran together as a group. That's what we're going to have to do at the Big 12 Championships and the regional meet.”

The women's team also had a strong meet, taking first and second places in the competition. Lisa Koll ran the 5K course in 17:57.7 to take the title, while freshman teammate Kelsey Bulat finished second with a time of 18:24.6.

“Lisa Koll has been training great,” women's head coach Dick Lee said. “She had a great summer of running and is much improved over last year. She ran a great race today and was by herself and leading it really from the first mile marker on. Kelsey Bulat is running really solid for us. She raced a week ago so she wasn't as fresh as some of the other kids who have taken a week off.”

Lee was also pleased about the sixth and eighth-place performances from veteran Jenny Mockler and freshman Paige Ties, respectively. This was Ties first collegiate competition.