Nov. 16, 2002

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Mitch Zundel led the Utah State men's cross country team to an eighth-place finish here Saturday at the 2002 NCAA Regional Championship. Zundel finished 14th overall, as he ran the 10,000-kilometer course in 30:43, 1:10 off the winner's time. In 2000, he also finished a personal-best 14th overall at the NCAA Regional meet, and went on to compete as an individual at the NCAA National Championships.

Jorge Torres of Colorado led the men's field with a time of 29:33. The second-place finisher, Antony Ford from Montana, was 00:38 behind Torres, at 30:11. In team standings, defending regional champion Colorado was upended by No. 8 in the region, Northern Arizona, 74 points to 93.

USU's Mike Nielson placed 43rd overall with a time of 31:29, and David Danley followed with a 44th place finish and time of 31:37. Steve Prescott and Ryan Griffeth rounded out USU's scoring runners, as they placed 49th and 53rd overall.

The Utah State men were ranked seventh in the mountain region and 26th nationally entering regionals. The mountain region has seven men's teams ranked in the top 30 nationally and is the second-strongest region in the country. Only the great lakes region has more ranked teams, with eight.

With a time of 22:17 and 31st place, junior Audrey Golightly led the Aggie women to eighth place of 17 competing teams. She was 1:46 off the winner's pace on the 6K course. USU's other four scoring runners were all within 00:39 of Golightly.

Melanie (McClellan) Marek placed 33rd with a time of 22:19. Lida Clapier and Christi Howell finished 48th and 49th, respectively. Kristen Coombs rounded out USU's points total, taking 59th with a time of 22:56.

Brigham Young University's women's team defended its title, as BYU placed all five scoring runners in the top 10. Colorado was second, claiming fourth, fifth and ninth places. Both teams automatically advance to the national championships.

In 2001, the USU men tied for seventh of 17 teams in the regional at Provo, Utah, while women finished ninth of 18 teams.

There is a chance Zundel may be selected to compete at the NCAA National Championship meet Nov. 25 as an at-large individual competitor. Those selections will be posted Nov. 18.

MEN'S TEAM RESULTS (pts.)

1.     Northern Arizona University*    742.  University of Colorado* 933.  Brigham Young University    994.  Weber State University  1285.  Montana State University    1306.  Colorado State University   1807.  University of New Mexico    1868.   UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY 2039.  University of Utah  21410. Air Force Academy   21511. UTEP    21712. University of Montana   33713. Idaho State University  36314. Southern Utah University    37915. University of Wyoming   38716. Texas Tech University   45517. New Mexico State    50318. University of Denver    546

MEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

1. Jorge Torres, Colorado  29:332.  Antony Ford, Montana*   30:113.  Edwardo Torres, Colorado    30:224.  Lyle Weese, Montana State*  30:225.  Nurani Sheikh, Northern Arizona 30:266.  Travis Laird, Northern Arizona  30:307.  Bashar Ibrahim, UTEP*   30:328.  Matt Gonzales, New Mexico*  30:369.  Delfino Arevalo, Utah   30:3610. Casey Jermyn, Montana State 30:38

UTAH STATE FINISHERS

14.    Mitch Zundel  30:4343. Mike Nielson  31:2944. David Danley  31:3749. Steve Prescott  31:4953. Ryan Griffeth    31:5462. Clark Bryner  32:0982. Dusan Hlbocky   33:15

WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS (pts)

1. Brigham Young University*   292.  University of Colorado* 663.  Northern Arizona University 904.  Colorado State University   995.  Weber State University  1056.  Air Force Academy   2097.  Montana State University    2198.   UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY   2209.  University of Utah  23510. Texas Tech University   26911. Southern Utah University    30712. University of Montana   31113. University of Wyoming   35314. University of Nevada    35815. University of New Mexico    41716. Idaho State University  45217. University of Denver    528

WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

1. Michaela Manova, BYU    20:312.  Ida Nilsson, Northern Arizona*  20:323.  Kassie Anderson, BYU    20:334.  Sara Gorton, Colorado   20:395.  Molly Austin, Colorado  20:426.  Johanna Nilsson, Northern Arizona*  20:457.  Katie Martin, BYU   20:528.  Jaime Cottle, BYU   21:169.  Natalie Florence, Colorado  21:2010. Breanne Sandberg, BYU   21:22

UTAH STATE FINISHERS

31.    Audrey Golightly    22:1733. Melanie (McClellan) Marek   22:1948. Lida Clapier  22:4449. Christi Howell  22:4559. Kristen Coombs  22:5669. Carol Cabanillas  23:0791. Emily Prestwich    23:49

* automatic qualifiers to the 2002 NCAA National Championship meet Nov. 25 at Terre Haute, Ind.