Clemson Women’s Cross Country Finishes Ninth At ACC Championships

Oct. 30, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, MD – The Clemson women’s cross country team finished ninth at the 2004 ACC Cross Country Championships held Saturday and hosted by the University of Maryland. The Tigers tallied 270 total points, the least they have had since 2000 when Clemson finished eighth with 253 points. Duke won the conference meet with 29 points, North Carolina recorded 56 points and NC State had 71 points for third place. Wake Forest totaled 94 points for fourth place, Virginia was fifth with 163 points and Florida State took sixth place (168). Virginia Tech finished seventh with 197 points and Maryland’s 205 point total placed them eighth. The Lady Tigers edged Georgia Tech (272) and Miami rounded out the field with 305 points.

Individually for Clemson, Jennifer Barton placed 43rd overall with a time of 24:00.6. Barton’s time was a personal-best effort for her, and all the Lady Tigers’ posted season-best performances. Sudati Masasu recorded a time of 24:25.1 to finish 52nd and Casey Phillips was 53rd with her time of 24:28.7. Patrice McMillan posted a time of 24:54.2 to finish 61st and Laura Ann Rukat was a scorer for the Lady TIgers with her 77th-place finish and time of 26:19.2. Thea Dix and Lauren Edwards finished 80th and 81st with times of 27:26.8 and 27:49.2, respectively.

“I am very pleased with our results,” said assistant coach AuDrey Branch. “We came out today and ran with some of the top teams in the nation and showed that we were here to compete. Every time the team has stepped out on the course this year, the ladies have improved their performances and competed hard. I think this race is indicative of the fact that this program is on the right track and we are excited about what the future holds for Clemson women’s cross country.”

Team Results 1. Duke – 29 points 2. North Carolina – 56 points 3. NC State – 71 points 4. Wake Forest – 94 points 5. Virginia – 163 points 6. Florida State – 168 points 7. Virginia Tech – 197 points 8. Maryland – 205 points 9. Clemson – 270 points 10. Georgia Tech – 272 points 11. Miami – 305 points

Clemson Results 43. Jennifer Barton – 24:00.6 52. Sudati Masasu – 24:25.1 53. Casey Phillips – 24:28.7 61. Patrice McMillan – 24:54.2 77. Laura Ann Rukat – 26:19.2 80. Thea Dix – 27:26.8 81. Lauren Edwards – 27:49