Oklahoma State University Athletics
Rain Can't Dampen Spirits at Hurricane Invitational
September 11, 2003 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
'I was soaking wet about an hour before I started the race - I think all of us were - and it got worse as the race progressed,' Alison Erzinger said. 'It started raining harder, the puddles got deeper, and as people ran through the mud it got more slippery.
'I think the team did well and because of the rain and all of the conditions we all had a great time. It was a very good way for the team to mesh and I think we're starting the season on a very positive note.'
Nearly three-quarters of a mile into the race, runners faced their biggest challenge, a 50 yard stretch of dirt road covered with water. Many of the competitors lost their footing and landed in the moat.
'It was just by luck where you stepped,' Sepulveda said. 'There were trees on either side of the path so there was no way around it. That's what cross country is all about - adapting to the country on that particular day.'
Despite finishing fourth out of a five team field including two Big 12 Conference opponents, Sepulveda was pleased with Oklahoma State's performance.
'It's a start,' Sepulveda said. 'I'm really enthusiastic about it and really pleased. We're going to just go from there and build on what we've started.'
The Cowgirls top individual performer was Jodi McVey. McVey finished 19th with a time of 14:10. OSU runners Katie Kelly (20), Daryl Round (21) and Maria Trejo (25) finished in the top 25 and Svetlana Vasilyeva (27), Erzinger (28) and Adrienne Crenshaw (29) rounded out the runners scoring points for the team. In all, 12 runners crossed the finish line for the Cowgirls.
