Sept. 29, 2006

Eugene, Ore. - Utah State's men's and women's cross country teams competed at the Bill Dellinger Invitational at the University of Oregon on Friday, Sept. 29 with both teams taking 11th-place.

Senior Vance Twitchell led the Aggie men placing 23rd in the 8,000-meter race with a time of 23:56.76. The men's team competed in a field of 13 teams. Junior Ben Kessen finished in the top 50 coming in 42nd with a time of 24:18.74. Sophomore Seth Wold, the 2005 WAC Cross Country Freshman of the Year came in 51st place (24:26.51).

On the women's side, Stacie Lifferth led the team in the 6,000-meter race, taking 40th-place with a time of 21:49.90. Lifferth's teammate Jennifer Twitchell came in directly behind Lifferth with a time of 21:52.54. Eleven teams competed in the women's field.

Utah State will next compete at the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind. On Saturday, Oct. 14.

Bill Dellinger Cross Country Invitational

Men's Team Results 1. Oregon 47 2. University of Portland 89 3. BYU 102 4. Alabama 135 5. California Polytechnic St. 144 6. University of California 163 7. Washington 183 7. Butler University 183 9. University of Texas 189 10. Duke 243 11. Utah State 270 12. American University 325 13. Wake Forest 356

Men's Individual Leaders (8k Run) 1. Josh Rohatinsky, BYU 22:58.37 2. Galen Rupp, Oregon 23:09.03 3. John Moore, Portland 23:19.09 4. Shadrack Kiptoo-Biwott, Oregon 23:28.18 5. Scott Overall, Butler 23:31.41

USU Men's Individuals 23. Vance Twitchell 23:56.76 42. Ben Kessen 24:18.74 51. Seth Wold 24:26.51 85. Tony Jones 25:02.20 101. Aaron Clements 25:32.40 104. Andrew Niccoli 25:41.25 113. Mike Budge 26:39.76 116. Taylor Price 27:43.00 117. Taylor Mackay 27.43.00

Women's Team Results 1. University of Arkansas 35 2. BYU 55 3. Wake Forest 117 4. Washington 119 5. Duke 132 6. Butler University 158 7. Indiana 170 8. University of California 179 9. University of Portland 231 10. Oregon 247 11. Utah State 264

Women's Individual Leaders (6k Run) 1. Kassie Anderson, BYU 19:54.09 2. Michelle Sikes, Wake Forest 20:10.91 3. Emily McCabe, Duke 20:31.68 4. Dani Parry, Arkansas 20:39.99 5. Amy Fowler, BYU 20:43.43

USU Women's Individuals 40. Stacie Lifferth 21:49.90 41. Jennifer Twitchell 21:52.54 58. Amy Egan 22:26.30 66. Caroline Berry 22:36.35 86. April Rowlan 23:36.65 90. Vanessa Hawkins 23:52.81 92. Erin Stratton 24:05.57 94. Alexis Meyer 24:26.99