Oct. 12, 2002

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - UNLV women's cross country runners Jessica Zarndt (Las Vegas) and Michele Suszek (Alpena, Mich.) made a pair of top 15 finishes at the 2002 UC San Diego Triton Classic held Saturday afternoon at the UCSD North Campus Course.

Zarndt, a senior veteran who has been recovering from the flu, returned to action in tip-top form with a tenth place time of 22:44.60. Suszek, a freshman, followed in a close 12th with a time of 22:51.60.

Freshman Colleen O'Brien (Henderson, Nev.) was the third highest Rebel finisher clocking in a time of 25:35.30 for 71st. Season bests were turned in by sophomore teammates Kelley Wright (Houston, Texas) and Monica Matute (Riverside, Calif.). Wright placed 72nd with a time of 25:37.90, while Matute placed 90th (27:12.50).

Freshman Erin Hammond (Sandia Park, N.M.) and junior Lacey Bridges (Battle Mountain, Nev.) each competed in their first 6K race of the season. Hammond placed 82nd (26:28.40) and Bridges 99th (29:26.20). Freshman Katie Hughes (Henderson, Nev.) rounded out the UNLV finishes with a time of 26:46.70 for 85th.

UNLV placed eighth in team scoring with 240 points, while UCLA claimed top team honors with 57 points. The field included 102 Division I participants and 11 Division I teams.

The Rebels have one more meet scheduled prior to the 2002 Mountain West Conference Championships to be held on Friday, Nov. 1 in Provo, Utah. UNLV will next compete in the Long Beach Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 9 a.m.

at 2002 UC San Diego Triton Classic (6K)UCSD North Campus CourseSan Diego, Calif.
WOMEN'S TEAM SCORING - 1, UCLA, 57. 2, UC Irvine, 78.3, Hawai'i, 101. 4, Nevada, Reno, 102. 5, USC, 136.6, San Diego State, 172. 7, San Diego, 188.8, UNLV, 240. 9, Sacramento State, 264.10, Saint Mary's College, 315. 11, Pacific, 449.
Participant      Place       TimeJessica Zarndt (Sr.)    10th        22:44.60Michele Suszek (Fr.)    12th        22:51.60Colleen O'Brien (Fr.)   71st        25:35.30Kelley Wright (So.) 72nd        25:37.90Erin Hammond (Fr.)  82nd        26:28.40Katie Hughes (Fr.)  85th        26:46.70Monica Matute (So.) 90th        27:12.50Lacey Bridges (Jr.) 99th        29:26.20