Rice University
Conference USA Championship
Bucknell Places 7th at Conference USA Cross Country Championship
10/31/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Oct. 31, 2009
Complete Results in PDF Format 
The Woodlands, Texas - Four Rice harriers, led by senior Simon Bucknell, placed in the top 20 as the Owls finished third at the Conference USA Cross Country Championship held at the Bear Branch Sportsfields as Rice tallied 88 points. In the closest men's C-USA championship race ever, UTEP edged 29th-ranked Tulsa by one point to win the 2009 title.
In its fifth year in C-USA, Rice has now placed first, second, or third in each year. The Owls were first in 2005, third in 2006, second in 2007, and third in 2008 and 2009.
In muddy and sloppy course conditions, the Miners placed six runners among the Top 12 for 31 points, while Tulsa had seven runners to finish in the Top 21 for 32 points. This marks the fourth time in the past five years UTEP has claimed the crown.
For the second consecutive year, Tulsa senior John Beattie clocked the fastest course time of the day with a 24:23.4, marking the fourth-time in championship history an individual medalist repeated as conference champion. The Golden Hurricane claimed three of the top five honors with Lewis Timmins finishing third in 24:30.0, while Kyle Dekker was fifth with an 8K time of 24:46.5. The trio repeated their All-C-USA first team honors.
Coming in second overall was UTEP's Nicodemus Ng'etich with a time of 24:26.7, followed by freshman teammate Elkana Rotich in fourth-place clocking 24:33.1 and Robert Menjo was seventh in 24:52.4. Rotich was the highest finishing freshman and wins the 2009 C-USA Male Freshman of the Year award.
Rice's Simon Bucknell was the lone non-Tulsa and UTEP runner to earn All-C-USA first team honors with a time of 24:56.8 for seventh-place.
Marshall scored 116 points for a fourth-place finish. Host Houston took fifth-place honors with 122 points, followed by East Carolina (140), Memphis (210) and Tulane (236).
RICE RESULTS 7 Bucknell, Simon SR Rice 24:56.8 -- Conference USA First Team
17 Trejo, Michael SO Rice 25:53.3 -- Conference USA Third Team
18 Zivick, Scott SR Rice 25:59.1 -- Conference USA Third Team
20 Cuadra, Gabe FR Rice 26:04.5 -- Conference USA Third Team
28 Carey, Matt FR Rice 26:28.5 26
33 Abuhamra, Sammy FR Rice 26:42.6 31
43 Llamas, James FR Rice 27:08.6 41
2009 C-USA MEN'S FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. UTEP 31
2. Tulsa 32
3. Rice 88
4. Marshall 116
5. Houston 122
6. East Carolina 140
7. Memphis 210
8. Tulane 236
Individual Medalist: John Beattie, Tulsa
Outstanding Senior: John Beattie, Tulsa
Freshman of the Year: Elkana Rotich, UTEP
Coach of the Year: Paul Ereng,UTEP
Players Mentioned
