SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Thunderbird No. 25 men's and No. 23 women's cross country teams competed at the Big Sky Championships this weekend where the women claimed a title for the first time since joining the Big Sky in 2012. The men finished third in the competition.
Angie Nickerson claimed her first Individual Championship the when she crossed the finish line ahead of the competition. Nickerson finished with a time of 16:30.26 in the women's 5K. This finish also helped lead the women to their first conference championship in the Big Sky.
"It feels so good knowing that our team has come so far," commented Nickerson. "Our team knew what the stakes were today and we were ready to compete. We were really able to pull it together and have a great race today so we are all on cloud nine."
The Thunderbirds had three other women finish in the top ten as well. Maddy Kauffman finished fourth followed by Madison Fruchey in fifth and Alison Pray in sixth. Sharlie Dimick was the next T-Bird to finish for the women clocking in a 12th place finish.
The women finished the race claiming their first conference championship with 28 points ahead of Northern Arizona and Weber State. The women also earned four All-Conference Status athletes with Nickerson, Kauffman, Fruchey and Pray finishing in the top ten.
"These women have really worked as a team this season and it has made all the difference," commented head coach Eric Houle on the big win. "Every single woman on this team was able to pick up the pace and hold on for their teammates and that is what won them this championship."
On the men's side, Christian Ricketts was the first athlete to cross the finish line for the T-Birds. Ricketts finished fifth in the race with a time of 23.43.5. Aidan Reed followed with a sixth place finish landing a time of 23:44.3.
Nate Osterstock was the final top ten finisher for the Thunderbirds. Osterstock finished with a time of 24:04.2 placing ninth in the race.
These three men claimed All-Conference status for their finishes in California.
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Head to www.suutbirds.com for all Thunderbird athletics news.
Women's Finishers
Angie Nickerson (1st Place; 16:30.3)
Maddy Kauffman (4th Place; 16:47.0)
Alison Pray (6th Place; 16:48.0)
Sharlie Dimick (12th Place; 17:08.3)
Julieta Navarrete-Lamas (22nd Place; 17:21.1)
Morgan Porcaro (36th Place; 17:39.5)
Brighton Glassman (66th Place; 18:47.4)
Men's Finishers
Christian Ricketts (5th Place; 23:43.5)
Aidan Reed (6th Place; 23:44.3)
Nate Osterstock (9th Place; 24:04.2)
Mark Bennett (27th Place; 24:47.3)
Koy Moore (29th Place; 24:56.8)
Liam Kennell (37th Place; 25:05.6)
George Espino (38th Place; 25:08.2)
Sean Newcomb (51st Place; 25:26.7)
