Sept. 25, 1999

SEATTLE, Wash. - The UNLV women?s cross country team ran to a sixth place overall finish at the Sundodger Invitational on Saturday.

The meet was the most competitive that the Rebels have seen this season with 10 other university programs competing. The host, University of Washington, won the team competition with a low score of 28 and captured three of the top five spots.

The meet offered the chance for UNLV?s top two runners this season to race in their hometown. Stephanie Davidson (Renton, WA/College of Southern Idaho) led the team for the third straight week, shattering her career best by more than 30 seconds. Davidson finished 14th among Division I opposition and clocked a 18:01.0. That is more than a full minute faster than her best time of last season.

Jenni Nelson (Seattle, WA/Univ. of Montana) also shone in front of the home crowd, running a career-best 18:21.0 and finishing 22nd. Both Nelson and Davidson spent the summer training in the Seattle area.

Junior Katie Barto (Henderson, NV/Green Valley) had her best showing in a Rebel uniform as well, finishing third on the team and 44th overall. She broke the 19-minute mark for the first time, running in 18:56.0.

Senior Kathryn Goetz (Denver, CO/Univ. of Nevada, Reno) and freshman Rhonda Kilfoyle (Las Vegas, NV/Clark) rounded out the top five by running career-best times, also. This is the second race this season in which UNLV?s top five has posted career-best times.

The Rebels run again in two weeks at the Long Beach Invitational on Saturday, October 9 in Long Beach, Calif.