Results
Oct. 28, 2006
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - After posting two top-four finishes and leading TCU in all three events, TCU's Calandra Stewart stayed true to form on Saturday, as she overcame the altitude and placed second at the 2006 Mountain West Conference Championships at Rose Park Golf Course.
Stewart's finish helped TCU's women's cross country team place fifth in the women's 6K. On the men's side, Festus Kigen finished 13th in the men's 8K and led the men's team to a sixth-place finish.
For her performance, Stewart was named first team All-Mountain West Conference, as she finished the 6K in a time of 21:10.9 9. Stewart finished second to BYU's Kassi Andersen, who posted a 20:52.7 to win the individual title.
"Heading into the race, we really felt Calandra could be in the top five," head coach Eric Heins said. "She got out into the front early and never let go of her position with the leaders. Halfway through the race the top three broke away. It was great to see her rebound after her performance last season. She was mentally prepared and she really showed her strength by coming from sea level and running so well in the altitude."
Kigen received second team All-Mountain West Conference honors with his finish, as he posted a time of 25:16.3 in the men's 8K.
"Festus did the same thing as Calandra at the start, but he faded a little bit in the end," Heins said. "He missed a few weeks during the middle of the season due to a back injury and it showed today because he didn't have the strength to go the distance."
The TCU women's team posted 121 points and finished just eight points shy of fourth-place Wyoming (113). BYU won the women's title with 35 points. The Cougars also took the men's title with 27 points. The TCU men's team finished with 153 points.
Following Stewart on the women's side was Carlene Mayfield, who finished 25th with a time of 22:51.4. Following Mayfield was McKale Davis, who finished 29th in a time of 22:53.7. Finishing 35th was Cassie Hostick in a time of 23:19.1. Danielle Selner finished 36th (23:20.2) and Lisa Baity finished 40th (23:20.7).
After Kigen, the men's team finished in a pack with
Matt Manly leading the way in 34th,
Matt Manly finished 34th with a time of 26:21.6.
Steven Solazzo finished 36th with a time of 26:21.6.
Alex Morris finished 42nd (26:58.4), Michael Garcia finished 44th (27:02.0),
J.T. Reinert finished 46th (27:13.0) and
Brad Maciulewicz finished 48th.
TCU will compete next at the NCAA Regionals on Nov. 11.
