Runners topple Edinboro at UAA Invitational

ANCHORAGE ? The Alaska Anchorage cross country team opened the 2008 season with a bang in the UAA Invitational against Edinboro (Pa.) on Saturday. Two newcomers helped the men top the Fighting Scot's 11th-ranked men's squad and two veterans helped the Seawolf women dominate and complete the sweep on a pleasant day at Kincaid Park.

Sophomore Marko Cheseto, a Kapenguria, Kenya, native in his first year with UAA, blistered to a 36-second victory over the nearly 8-kilometer course in the men's race with a time of 23 minutes, 24.6 seconds. Freshman Jake Parisien of Palmer was also impressive in his Seawolf debut, finishing third in 24:01.2, being edged by Edinboro's Ben Hahn (24:00.9) at the finish line.

Beyond Cheseto and Parisien, the unranked UAA men took an seven-point team win with a strong fifth-place showing from sophomore Paul Rottich (24:38.2) and late pushes from senior David Kiplagat and sophomore Cory Pena, who finished seventh and eighth, respectively.

Senior Elizabeth Chepkosgei, UAA's top women's runner last year and the winner of the 2007 UAA Invite, picked up where she left off last year with a win in 18:23 over the 5K women's course. Chepkosgei was followed closely to the finish by a trio of Seawolves led by junior Laura Carr, who clocked a time of 18:31 in her first race following a redshirt season in 2007. Sophomore Emma Bohman (19:08.9) and freshman Laura Rombach (19:09.8) rounded out the top four.

The Seawolves return to action Sept. 20 when they travel to Seattle, Wash., for the Sundodger Invitational.

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Players Mentioned

Emma Bohman: DIS; 5' 5"; Freshman

Laura Carr: DIS; 5' 2"; Junior

Elizabeth Chepkosgei: DIS; 5' 4"; Sophomore

David Kiplagat: DIS; 5' 10"; Junior

Laura Rombach: NOR; Freshman

Cory Pena: M; 6' 0"; Freshman

Paul Rottich: M; 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman

Marko Cheseto: M; Sophomore

Jake Parisien: M; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Emma Bohman
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: DIS

Laura Carr
: 5' 2"; Junior
: DIS

Elizabeth Chepkosgei
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: DIS

David Kiplagat
: 5' 10"; Junior
: DIS

Laura Rombach
: Freshman
: NOR

Cory Pena
: 6' 0"; Freshman
: M

Paul Rottich
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Freshman
: M

Marko Cheseto
: Sophomore
: M

Jake Parisien
: Freshman
: M