Oct. 12, 2008

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Owls used another impressive performance by sophomore Mackenzie Howe to propel them to a ninth place finish in the Walt Disney World Cross Country Classic in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday, October 11.

"Today and last weekend at Auburn have been great as far as preparation for conference," Howe said. "We have faced some pretty tough competition, which is really helpful towards showing us what we still have to work on, and where we stand. We are running with a lot of confidence right now."

Howe completed the race, a 5k, with a time of 17:50.90, to take fifth place in the event. She was followed by Kristen Gibson in 26th (18:43.20) and Soibhan Wolcott in 43rd (18:59.10). Three hundred and fifty three runners competed in the race.

The Owls took ninth at the meet out of 44 total teams. They will be back in action when they travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., on Saturday, October 18.

Individual Ranking
5. Mackenzie Howe -17:50.90
26. Kristen Gibson -18:43.20
43. Soibhan Wolcott -18:59.10
86. Caitlin German -19:48
152. Lorena Jaime -21:01.50
205. Katie Charles -22:17.40

Team Ranking
1. Uab
2. Windsor ON
3. South Florida
4. Tampa
5. Houston
6. Johns Hopkins
7. South Carolina
8. Central Florida
9. Kennesaw State
10. Embry-Riddle
11. Utsa
12. Campbell
13. Miami
14. Johnson County CC
15. Nova Southeastern
16. West Florida
17. N.C. Central
18. Florida Tech
19. Florida Southern
20. Cuyahoga CC
21. Stetson
22. Florida Gulf Coast
23. Winston-Salem St.
24. Florida
25. Valdosta State
26. Pasco-Hernando CC
27. Schoolcraft College
28. Texas Lutheran
29. Buffalo State
30. Limestone
31. Flagler
32. Young Harris College
33. Saint Leo
34. Florida Atlantic
35. Warner Southern
36. South Carolina-Beaufort
37. Webber
38. Delta St.
39. Robert Morris
40. Methodist
41. Palm Beach Atlantic
42. Florida College
43. Edward Waters
44. St. Thomas