SUGAR GROVE, Ill. - A pair of top-10 finishes by sophomore Nkemdilim Okwumabua of Rockford, Ill., and freshman Jessica Windett of Byron, Ill., helped pace the Ashford University women's cross country squad to take fourth place at the Waubonsee Chief's Invitational on Saturday.
Following a week of high-mileage practice, the Saints fortune didn't fare any better on the course, as winds reached upwards of 30 miles per hour in the early morning.
"Overall, I'm very happy with the results as Nkemi and Jessica took home individual honors and the team finished fourth overall," said AU Head Coach Tyson Graham. "With mileage so high this week, our legs were heavy and tired. Next week we will lower the mileage a bit and raise intensity and I hope we can nurse some injuries back to health to see better performance."
It appeared that Windett would be the Saints top finisher late in the race, but it was Okwumabua who made her final move with under 400 meters remaining to take sixth-place honors with a personal record time of 22:10.
Windett finished in ninth place, crossing the line in 22:25. Both Okwumabua and Windett's top-10 finishes earned them individual honors following the meet.
Freshman Ann Chezem of Plainfield, Ill., who finished seventh overall last week at the Harper Hawks Invitational, crossed the finish line next for Ashford and earned an 18th-place finish with a time of 23:07.
Fellow freshman Peyton Pachucki of Illinois City, Ill., and senior Olivia Canales of Farmington, Ill., wrapped up the meet for the Saints as they earned 37th and 39th-place finishes, respectively. Pachucki finished with a time of 25:46 while Canales' new personal-best time of 25:53 earned high praise from Graham.
"Once again Olivia's performance was impressive, and she's been nothing short of impressive thus far this season," said Graham. "If she continues working hard, I believe she has the capability of lowering her time by another minute or two."
The Saints will take their talents to the biggest meet of the season thus far next week, traveling to Iowa State University in Ames for the Iowa Intercollegiate Championships.
