Rossner places 64th at Districts

Rossner, a runner on the women's across-country team, set a personal best. Last weekend, Penn women's cross country captain Meredith Rossner finished 64th out of 162 runners in the NCAA District II Championships at Lehigh, a qualifying meet for the national championships. Although Rossner was unable to qualify for the national meet, she did set a personal record with a time of just over 18 minutes and 50 seconds for the five-kilometer course. "My goal for the entire season has been to break 19 minutes," Rossner said. "It feels great to finally do that." Carmen Douma of Villanova won the race with a time of 16 minutes and 57 seconds. Rossner was Penn's only competitor in the race. Due to the Quakers' poor performance at the Heptagonal Championships two weeks earlier, the coaches decided to hold everyone except Rossner out of the race. "It was really weird for me to run a race without the rest of my team there," Rossner said. "It felt different running by myself." Rossner, a junior, is hoping that her race at Lehigh will help prepare her to do even better in the fall of 2000. "This was without a doubt the most competitive race of the season," she said. "I definitely gained valuable experience for next year." Rossner was clearly the one constant this year for a Penn squad which saw two top runners quit the team and numerous others suffer from injury problems. "Meredith has been there for us all year," Penn assistant coach Crickett Batz-Shaklee said. "It was great to see her finish the season at the top of her game." Georgetown, which won the meet, edged out Villanova by placing five runners in the top 15. One concern for Penn going into the race was that Rossner would not be completely rested. "When the season extends to this point it becomes very difficult to stay on top of your game," Batz-Shaklee said. "But Meredith definitely came out focused and ready to run her best." With the cross country season officially over for Penn, all attention now turns towards the indoor season. Rossner, who will also run indoor track, will have a week off before she begins training again for the winter season.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.