9/7/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Sept. 7, 1999
Storyline: The UNLV cross country team hits the road again this week, headed to Irvine, CA to compete in the UCI/Asics Invitational. The race begins at 9:00 a.m. at Central Park in Huntington Beach, CA. The women?s field will include approximately 15 teams. Scheduled to compete are Arizona, Arizona State, Northern Arizona, Cal State Fullerton, Concordia, Cal Poly, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State Los Angeles, New Mexico State, Southern Utah, San Diego State and UNLV. The Rebels are coming off an impressive third place finish of 16 teams at the Jammin? Invitational in Fullerton, CA last week.
What to expect from the Rebels this week: Look for more of the same from the Rebels this week. Senior front runner Sharlene Downing (Las Vegas, NV/Southern Illinois) will miss her second meet of the year while rehabilitating form a spring injury. Stephanie Davidson (Renton, WA/Coll. of Southern Idaho) led the team last week, finishing 14th overall in 18:34.6. She was followed by newcomer Jenni Nelson (Seattle, WA/Univ. of Montana), who finished just one second behind. All eight of the Rebels finishers clocked career best marks.
Head Coach Karen Dennis: Karen Dennis is in her eighth year overseeing the cross country and track and field program at UNLV. In 1997, she was named by USA Track and Field as the head coach for the women?s national team that will compete in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She has coached 13 All-Americans since arriving at UNLV and was the 1993 MPSF Coach of the Year.
Quoting Distance Coach Mary Shea: ?It was a good start for us, but it also showed us where we need work. There were a lot of positive things, and we plan to focus on those and keep our look positive.?
Looking Ahead: Following this weekend?s meet, the Rebels will have two weeks to prepare for the Sundodger Invitational in Seattle, WA.
