Bowling Green State University Athletics
Kipchumba is Individual Champion at Central Collegiate Invitational
September 18, 2004 | Men's Cross Country
Sept. 18, 2004
TOLEDO, Ohio - Bowling Green State University sophomore Rogers Kipchumba captured the individual title at the Central Collegiate Invitational Saturday afternoon (Sept. 18). The Falcon men finished fifth, while the women's team placed sixth at the meet, hosted by Toledo at the Ottawa Hills Golf Course.
(Note: The original results listed the Falcons as finishing seventh in the women's race. But, an error in Central Michigan's team score was found, dropping the Chippewas to eighth and moving the Falcons and Youngstown State up one notch apiece.)
In the men's race, Kipchumba paced all competitors with a time of 25:20, two seconds ahead of the next runner and six seconds in front of the next collegian, Central Michigan's Jacob Flynn.
"Rogers ran a great race," said Falcon head coach Cami Wells. "He made a few tactical errors last week (at the Mel Brodt Invitational), but today he ran brilliantly against some stiff competition, and had a great finishing kick."
Sophomore Edwin Cheruiyot, like Kipchumba a native of El Doret, Kenya, was the second Falcon to finish, placing 12th in a time of 26:07. He was followed by junior Bryan Jackson (42nd, 27:36), freshmen Steve Ferber (53rd, 28:20) and Ryan Rohrer (58th, 28:34), senior Steve Vairetta (60th, 28:50), freshmen Will Elmore (63rd, 29:06), Curtis Farnsel (64th, 29:12) and Aaron Smuda (65th, 29:16) and senior Jeremy Hartley (70th, 29:59).
"Edwin ran a nice race today, and continues to improve each week," said Wells. "I was especially pleased to see Steve Ferber step up and fill our number-four spot. He showed a lot of heart today.
"Overall, the men did a nice job. We still have a lot of work to do, but are progressing in the right direction."
CMU captured the men's team title at the Central Collegiate Invite. On the women's side, Buffalo captured the team crown.
Individually for the Falcon women, freshman Jamie Roflow was the top finisher, placing 16th in a time of 18:37. Senior Melissa Krueger was the next BG runner to finish (22nd, 18:51), followed by classmate Elise Gould (23rd, 18:51), sophomore Kim Settle (38th, 19:14), senior Niki Suitor (41st, 19:24) and freshman Caroline Hillman (48th, 19:35).
Christina Gingras (51st, 19:40), Andrea Pollack (60th, 19:54), Caroline Kipchaba (64th, 20:02), Emily Jackson (75th, 20:20), Stephanie Hillman (76th, 20:26), Leslie Carden (83rd, 20:48), Jayme Ramson (86th, 21:08) and Angie Raizes (98th, 21:55) rounded out the BGSU competitors in Saturday's race.
"We were hoping for a much better team place today," said Wells. "We were a little flat overall from all the tough training we have had. That training will pay off later in the season, but we were a little off today. We also have some tactical things to work on.
"I was quite pleased with Jamie Roflow's race. She ran great, and Elise and Melissa were solid. I thought Kim Settle ran a tough race, as well. The rest of the team needs to step up and respond on meet day."
There were a total of 78 finishers in the men's race and 118 in the women's event.
After three meets in Northwest Ohio to open the season, the Falcons now prepare to head to California for the Stanford Invitational on Sept. 25. Host Stanford boasts the defending national champions in both men's and women's cross country.
