The first University at Buffalo female runner in over 35 years to compete in the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, UB's Jenny Koeppel traveled to the LaVern Gibson Championship Course at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center to compete in the championship meet, hosted by Indiana State University.
The senior Amherst native recorded a time of 21:28.0, which was good for an impressive 56th place finish in a field of 250 of the nation's top runners on Mon., Nov. 22.
Although Koeppel had previously competed against a handful of those also present at the championships, she remained modest following her finish.
"I was relieved that it was over," Koeppel said. "I was pretty nervous getting into the race with that type of competition."
UB head cross-country coach Vicki Mitchell elaborated on Koeppel's performance.
"Jenny's race was great. She ran a strong race, she raced to her potential and beyond at her very first NCAA Championships," said UB head coach Vicki Mitchell. "It is hard to get to a meet of this caliber and have a peak performance. Prior to the race, we evaluated the competition and discussed the race plan, and realistic goals. Top 100 was the primary goal, possibly top 75 if everything went well."
Providence's Kim Smith overwhelmingly won the individual title, covering the muddy course in 20:08.5. Smith's time was 18 seconds ahead of the second place finisher, Renee Metevier of Colorado. Despite the rugged nature of the course due to the rain that hampered the area in previous days before the race, Koeppel didn't see the harsh conditions as a hindrance.
"The course was muddy and torn up, it was a fun race because of the conditions," she said.
Colorado took the team title with five finishers in the top 25 and 63 total points. Duke rolled into second place with 144 points, followed by Providence's 164 points, good enough for the Friars to earn third place. Notre Dame was fourth with 170 points while Stanford, the defending national champion, was pushed to fifth place with 175 points.
Koeppel was granted an individual automatic qualifier bid into the race following her ninth place finish at the Northeast Regionals, held in New York City on Nov. 13. Aside from earning the automatic qualifier bid, Koeppel also earned All-Northeast Region honors for the second consecutive season.
The NCAA Championships capped off a stellar 2004 cross-country season for Koeppel in which she was the top female finisher for the Bulls in all eight races that the UB women raced in as a team this season.
Her best 6K performance was turned in at the Paul Short Invitational on Sept. 25 in a time of 20:59.05 while Koeppel raced to a season-best in the shorter 5K distance at the Central Collegiate Invitational, crossing the finish in 17:49, good for first place individual honors and a first place team finish for the Bulls.
Finishing first in four of the eight races she ran in this season, Koeppel earned the Mid-American Conference individual title and led the UB women to five first place team finishes this season.
"For Jenny, her approach to her training and racing has been the key to her success," said Mitchell. "The consistency with which she trains and competes has set a new standard for her teammates. I have taken great joy in watching her develop. To say that I am proud of her and her team is an understatement."
Although the cross-country season has come to an end, Koeppel will look to carry over her success from the fall into the winter and spring for the Bulls' indoor and outdoor track teams.
"It was mind-blowing," said Koeppel. "I couldn't have pictured a better way to end my career."
