Men's and Women's Cross Country Finishes in Top 10 at Nationals

MADISON, Wisc. – Both the men's and women's cross country teams logged top 10 finishes at the 2018 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, marking the first time in program history that both teams have ended the season in the top 10. The women finished sixth for the second-straight season, while the men finished tied for 10th with NC State. Boise State one the tiebreaker thanks to three top 50 finishes from their first three runners.

The Broncos were one of six programs to have both their men and women finish in the top 10.

"Today didn't go the way we thought it would," head coach Corey Ihmels said. "To get both teams into the top 10 and have three All-Americans is a great accomplishment, but we have higher goals and aspirations for where we want to take this program."

Allie Ostrander finished sixth in 19:56.9 for the third top 10 finish at nationals in her career. Ostrander's finish also continued a streak of eight consecutive seasons for Ihmels having a women's athlete finish in the top 10 at nationals, dating back to his time at Iowa State.

Sophomore Emily Venters snuck into the top 40 in 39th (20:35.8) to earn the first All-America honors of her career as Boise State's No. 2 runner. Redshirt senior Addison Dehaven improved upon his 31st-place finish at nationals in 2017, but taking 28th (29:51.2) on Saturday.

With the course covered in an inch snow with the temperature hanging in the 30s at the start of the women's race, both teams battled harsh conditions. Ostrander went out with the leaders from the start, and entered the final two kilometers in the lead pack.

With roughly a kilometer remaining, New Mexico's Weini Kelati broke a five-meter gap on the field, with Ostrander and several others making up a chase pack. The redshirt junior held on to take sixth. Boise State tallied 288 points on the day to finish sixth, tying their best finish at nationals.
Colorado won the team title with 65 points, while Mountain West foe New Mexico was second with 103.

In the men's 10-kilometer race, the Broncos came through the 2-kilometer split strung out in the field – led by DeHaven, Riley Campbell and Yusuke Uchikoshi. The trio gradually moved up the field, moving into the top 80 at the 6-kilometer mark.

DeHaven powered his way through the final two kilometers, moving up 12 spots to finish in 28th. Campbell had arguably the greatest race of his career in his final cross country race in the Blue and Orange, missing All-America honors by four spots in 44th. The redshirt senior gained ground over the final kilometer as Boise State's No. 2 runner. Uchikoshi continued his push to the finish line by placing 45th in his final race for Boise State.

The efforts of Boise State's leading trio led the Broncos to win the tiebreaker over NC State. Both teams tied with 342 points, it went to a head-to-head decision based on match-ups between each team's five scoring runners. With Boise State getting three runners across the line before the Wolf Pack got their first runner across, the Broncos were awarded the tiebreaker by taking at least three of the five spots.

The Broncos concluded a remarkable season that saw both teams achieve their highest ranking in program history.
Women's 6-kilometer
6. Boise State- 288 points
6. Allie Ostrander- 19:56.9
39. Emily Venters- 20:35.8
89. Maxine Paholek- 21:01.3
104. Alexis Fuller- 21:06.9
121. Gracie Tostenson- 21:14.6
161. Clare O'Brien- 21:32.7
175. Kyra Lopez- 21:38.5

Men's 10-kilometer
10. Boise State- 342 points*
28. Addison DeHaven- 29:51.2
44. Riley Campbell- 30:02.2
45. Yusuke Uchikoshi- 30:02.8
112. Elijah Armstrong- 30:44.1
188. Ahmed Muhumed- 31:29.3
216. Jeff Lautenslager- 32:00.9
217. Miler Haller- 32:02.8

Boise State Athletics

Men's and Women's Cross Country Finishes in Top 10 at Nationals

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Players Mentioned

Elijah Armstrong

Riley Campbell

Addison DeHaven

Alexis Fuller

Miler Haller

Jeff Lautenslager

Kyra Lopez

Ahmed Muhumed

Clare O'Brien

Allie Ostrander

Maxine Paholek

Gracie Tostenson

Yusuke Uchikoshi

Emily Venters

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