Rice University
Conference USA Championships
Hewamudalige, Owls Second at C-USA Championships
10/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Oct. 29, 2005
Orlando, Fla. -
Senior Marcel Hewamudalige finished second and three other Rice runners earned all-conference honors Saturday as the Owls finished second in the Conference USA men's cross country championships at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.
Hewamudalige exchanged the lead with eventual champion Patrick Mutai of UTEP throughout the eight-kilometer race, but a surge by Mutai just after the four-mile mark gave the UTEP runner the edge as he set a Disney complex record with his 23:35.26 clocking. Hewamudalige, who was the WAC champion last year, set a huge personal best with a 23:37.27.
UTEP won the team title with 23 points, while Rice scored 54 to hold off Tulsa's 58 in third.
"UTEP is just a tremendously deep team," said Rice head coach Jon Warren. "But I was really proud of our guys for doing everything they had to do to cement that second-place finish. From Marcel on down, we had great efforts and I was excited to see people like Charles (Hampton) so far up the field."
Hampton, a sophomore transfer from Texas, had the best race of his life to take seventh in 24:33.02, and all-conference honors were earned by David Axel, 12th in 25:07.73, and Colby Keithan, 15th in 25:16.41. Pablo Solares was the Owls' fifth finisher, crossing the line in 18th-place at 25:40.98, while freshmen Justin Maxwell (31st in 26:19.39) and Brett Olson (36th in 26:53.24) also ran well in their first conference meet.
"Marcel is certainly showing he belongs among the nation's best," Warren said. "Mutai is one of the most talented distance runners in the NCAA ranks, and Marcel ran right with him today. That really bodes well for the regionals in a couple weeks."
Players Mentioned
