Oct. 29, 1999

PROVO, Utah - The UNLV women?s cross country team captured a fourth-place overall team finish at the inaugural Mountain West Conference Championships Friday, scoring 128 points in the eight-team race.

The Rebels? have not finished better than fourth in a conference race since coming in third of three schools at the 1983 Big West Conference Cross Country Championships. It is the highest finish any Rebel cross country squad has posted under the direction of head coach Karen Dennis.

?We like the fact that there were only 46 seconds between our first and fifth runners,? said Dennis. ?We felt that our best chance would be if we ran as a pack. This was a good team effort.?

BYU, which swept the WAC cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field titles last year, captured the first Mountain West crown as well, scoring a perfect 15 points. The Cougars? Elizabeth Jackson was the individual medalist, clocking 17:16.2.

Jenni Nelson (Renton, WA/Univ. of Montana) led all Rebel finishers for the second straight race, placing 19th overall and clocking 18:58.6.

Senior Stephanie Davidson (Renton, WA/Coll. Of Southern Idaho) finished third among the UNLV entries and 29th overall. Davidson had posted times in the conference?s top 10 during the season, but missed two important weeks of training with a leg injury.

Just one meet remains for the Rebels this season. They will head to Portland, OR to compete in the NCAA West Regional on Saturday, Nov. 13.

?I think we?ll race better at the regional,? Dennis said. ?Today excited everyone, and we?ll get back to 100 percent. It was a good momentum builder.?