Michigan
NCAA Championships
U-M Places 24th at NCAA Championships
11/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Meet: NCAA Cross Country Championships (10,000 Meters)
U-M Finish: 24th place of 31 Teams (522 points)
Top U-M Individual: Ciaran O'Lionaird, 68th (30:37.1)
Next Meet: Season Completed
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The No. 9-ranked University of Michigan men's cross country team finished 24th out of 31 teams (522 points) at the NCAA Championships Monday (Nov. 24 ) on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course. Oregon, which is ranked No. 1 in the country, won its second straight national title with just 93 points. The Ducks were led by Galen Rupp, who won his first individual title with a time of 29:04.
Junior/sophomore Ciaran O'Lionaird(Cork, Ireland/de La Salle) led the Wolverines across the finish line, placing 68th overall with a time of 30:37.1. O'Lionaird was followed just four seconds later by senior/junior Sean McNamara(Elmhurst, Ill./York), who finished 77th with a time of 30:41.6.
Other U-M scorers included sophomore Craig Forys(Howell, N.J./Colts Neck), who finished 137th (31:10.1), senior Lex Williams(Ann Arbor, Mich./Dexter), who finished 182nd (31:32.4) and fifth-year senior Seth Thibodeau(Milford, Mich./Milford), who finished 189th (31:36.6).
Other Michigan finishers included fifth-year senior Justin Switzer(Waterford, Mich./Kettering) and senior/junior Brandon Fellows(Mercer Island, Wash./Mercer Island), who finished 226th (32:19.3) and 243rd (32:55.0), respectively.
O'Lionaird, McNamara, Thibodeau and Switzer all battled cold and snowy conditions to turn in career-best times for a 10,000-meter race.
Top 10 Teams
1. Oregon 93 2. Iona 147 3. Stanford 227 4. Wisconsin 229 5. Auburn 264 6. Northern Arizona 281 7. Portland 293 8. Oklahoma State 305 9. BYU 310 10. Georgetown 319 ----------------------------------- 24. MICHIGAN 522
Top 10 Individuals
1. Galen Rupp, Oregon 29:03.2 2. Samuel Chelanga, Liberty 29:08.0 3. Andrew Ledwith, Iona 29:25.4 4. David Kinsella, Portland 29:26.5 5. Luke Puskedra, Oregon 29:27.8 6. Mohamed Khadraoui, Iona 29:29.3 7. Chris Derrick, Stanford 29:29.4 8. John Kosgei, Oklahoma State 29:32.4 9. Shadrac Kiptoo-Biwott, Oregon 29:43.4 10. Kyle Perry, BYU 29:46.1
Michigan Individuals
68. Ciaran O'Lionaird 30:37.1 77. Sean McNamara 30:41.6 137. Craig Forys 31:10.1 182. Lex Williams 31:32.4 189. Seth Thibodeau 31:36.6 226. Justin Switzer 32:19.3 243. Brandon Fellows 32:55.0
Contact: Joe Arancio (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
