Sept. 4, 2004

Las Vegas - Michele Suszek finished 12th and UNLV took 13th overall as a team, as the Rebels began the 2004 women's cross country season Saturday morning at the Fullerton Opener in Fullerton, Calif. Suszek ran the 5k course in a time of 18:43.50, missing out of a top-10 finish by less than five seconds. Also running for the Rebels were Sarah Loughlin, who finished 65th with a time of 20:08.50, Samantha Serrano (67th, 20:10.20), Leta Rose (91st, 20:42.10), Ashley Pierce (93rd, 20:43.90), Erin Hammond (97th, 20:52.30), Heather Walsh (105th, 21:07.60) and Katie Hughes (106th, 21:08.20). UNLV finished the meet with 303 team points to place 13th out of 19 teams. Erika Aklufi, who was running unattached, won the race with a time of 17:33.40. Brooke Thomas (18:06.20) and Allison Marquand (18:11.20), both from Cal Coast College, took second and third. Cal State Fullerton finished first overall as team, with a total of 97 points. Cal Coast was second with 106 and Concordia took third with 114. UNLV will be in California again next weekend as the Rebels travel to the UC Irvine Invite, held Sept. 11 in Irvine, Calif.

Place   Name                Time11  Michele Suszek          18:43.5065  Sarah Loughlin          20:08.5067  Samantha Serrano            20:10.2091  Leta Rose               20:42.1093  Ashley Pierce           20:43.9097  Erin Hammond            20:52.30105 Heather Walsh           21:07.60106     Katie Hughes            21:08.20