Shocker 2012 Cross Country

[1972Shocker]

The Lady Shocks get off to a pretty good start with a good showing in their opening race at the J.K. Gold Classic held at the RAFT Golf Course in Augusta.

Looks like K-State was the only other D-1 competition in the field. The Shocks Top 5 runners scored 26 points to 33 for K-State's Top 5. Shocker All-American Aliphine Tuliamuk won the Women's 4K race in record time of 13:27:75 finishing almost 15 seconds ahead of K-State's Laura Galvan.

Outside of Aliphine the only other returning Shocker to score in last year's MVC Championship was Samantha Shukla (17th in that race). Samantha, a junior this year finished 8th in today's race at 14:55.57. However, 3 other Shockers finished ahead of Samantha in today's race including Sophomore Kaitlyn McLeod (4th at 14:18.79), Freshman Emilea Finley (6th at 14:49.48) and Junior Elida Bailon (7th at 14:51.38).

http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticl...DB_OEM_ID=7500

[goshox74]

Nice recap, 1972Shocker!

I think there have been a lot of questions surrounding this year's women's team so today was definitely a positive step. I think they may have been a little fired up after being picked #3 in the MVC pre-season. Hopefully they will continue to improve as the year goes on even though the MVC is getting tougher and tougher with Illinois State and now Bradley (with former WSU coach Marc Burns at the helm).

Great start ladies!

[1972Shocker]

Paul Suellentrop reports on Saturday's race:

http://www.kansas.com/2012/09/01/2471961/wichita-states-young-runners-catch.html

Kaitlyn McLeod improved her time by more than a minute from last year.

Pual focused mostly on the women's team in this article, although there were some good story lines for the men also.

[1972Shocker]

Congrats to Aliphine Tuliamuk for winning the seeded Pre-National 6K race in Louisville and, in the process, breaking her own WSU 6K record by 14 seconds.

http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205711376&DB_OEM_ID=7500

[1972Shocker]

Good luck to Aliphine on Friday in Springfield.

http://www.kansas.com/2012/11/07/2560158/wsus-tuliamuk-bolton-ready-to.html

[1972Shocker]

Aliphine (19:55.67) finishes a close second to her fellow Kenyan and closed friend Betsy Saina (19.51.46) of Iowa State which qualifies Aliphine for next weeks National Championship where she is a legitimate contender to win.

http://www.missouristatebears.com/sports/w-xc/stats/2012-2013/womens6kresults.html

This weeks race was not about winning. It was about qualifying for the Nationals while trying to conserve as much energy as possible for next weeks race.

Congratulations to Aliphine and good luck next Saturday in Louisville (where Aliphine won the 2012 Pre-National 6K three weeks ago in 19:43.90).

:good:

[1972Shocker]

Aliphine goes for the Big Prize in Louisville on Saturday at 11:00 am.

http://www.goshockers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205737283&DB_OEM_ID=7500

Best of luck Aliphine!

Go Get 'em!

[goshox74]

Great NCAA Cross Country preview including a Tuliamuk mention as one of the 5 women to watch this weekend ... http://tracksuperfan.com/ncaa-cross-...uide#more-5104

Aliphine should do really well but I think Betsy Saina of Iowa State will be the odds on favorite. She won the NCAA Indoor 5k last year and has great finishing speed. Aliphine, who is best friends with Betsy (see the Wichita Eagle article last week), will have to press the pace to use up Betsy's kick. Either way I'm sure Aliphine will get a tremendous effort as always in her final NCAA Cross Country race!

Goooooooooo PHINE!

[1972Shocker]

Aliphine taking it easy this week. She only put in 50 easy miles and took a day off.

http://www.kansas.com/2012/11/16/2571111/wsus-tuliamuk-bolton-ready-for.html

Bring home the gold Aliphine. Hopefully, you wil have a strong Wichita breeze at your back all they way.

[dregn]

Saina won, Aliphine takes 4th it looks like

[RoyalShock]

WSU Track & XC @WichitaSt_TFXC
Aliphine finishes 4th! What a great effort. School record and best finish in school history!

[1972Shocker]

Great effort Aliphine. Congratulations on another All-America honor (her 8th I believe as a Shocker).

When I heard going in that the Louisville course was flat I was a little disappointed. I'm sure Aliphine would prefer a much more grueling hilly course.

Aliphine is not done though. She will no doubt be in the indoor 5K and the outdoor 10K and perhaps a double in the outdoor 5K, although I would like to see her conserve her energy in the spring and focus on the 10K which is her better distance.

:good:

[flyingMoose]

I just noticed that in the Shocker Vision Video window (upper right of the home page of goshockers.com) there is a clip of the Alphine and the NCAA meet with a phone interview with the coach over the top of it.