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Front Three Carry AU Women to Eighth at Paul Short Invitational
Akbar, Backlawski and Carlstrom lead the way for Eagles

September 28, 2002 | Results

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - American University's women's cross country squad placed eighth at the Paul Short Invitational held Saturday at Lehigh University. Senior Samia Akbar was the first finisher for the Eagles, placing third in 21:04.91 on the 6,000-meter course.

Akbar was only 13 seconds behind the winner, Megan Metcalfe of West Virginia. Akbar's time was 21 seconds faster than she ran last year on the same course. Junior Jen Baclawski placed ninth in the meet, running 21:39.73. Her time was also faster than her mark of a year ago by 17 seconds.

Freshman Keira Carlstrom rounded out AU's top three, finishing 16th in her first time running 6,000m in 22:00.58. Rounding out the top-five finishers for the Eagles were freshman Zaia Wharton in 104th (23:51.04) and sophomore Whitney McNees in 111th (24:00.15).

Also running at Paul Short for AU, junior Leah Heinecke-Krumhus placed 131st in 24:23.47. Megan Simpson finished 144th in 24:37.70.

Penn State won the meet with 55 points. The Nittany Lions were followed by West Virginia, Princeton, Columbia, Wayne State, Pennsylvania and Rutgers. The Eagles scored 243 points, only three points behind Rutgers. Patriot League opponents Lafayette, Lehigh and Colgate placed 13th, 15th and 19th respectively.

The Eagles have some time off before returning to action on October 19th at the William & Mary Invitational.