Cross Country Closes Spring Season at Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. - The Mercer Cross Country squads wrapped up their spring non-traditional season at Auburn University's War Eagle Invitational on Saturday. The team went out with a bang, turning in several season-best performances and breaking three Mercer records in the process.

The day was kicked off by Andrew Weems' very respectable fourth place finish in the 3000 meter steeplechase. While Weems was unable to top his personal season-best time, he finished the grueling race in 10:10.79 minutes.

Next up for the Bears was Jenna Jackson, who competed in the 100 meter dash. Despite some apparent hamstring pain, Jackson crossed the line in a clocking of 12.75 seconds. That time eclipsed her own personal record of 12.78, set just a month earlier at Mercer's home meet.

Chris Crook established a new 400 meter dash record by running a 53.83. “Considering that Chris is a cross country runner who has crossed over into sprints I'm happy with his performance,” said MU head coach Ryan Bailey. “He has been working hard and is willing to give 100 percent in his races. Having someone who is willing to switch to the 400 has helped us with the DMR (distance medley relay) – so I have to give Crook kudos.”

Freshman Kacie Niemann – who learned from some tactical mistakes the last time she ran the 1500 meters – had a more solid race this time around for Mercer. Niemann finished the race in a time of 5:03.54. Her time is the third-fastest in the Mercer books (with only 2006 alumnae Valerie Detrick having run faster).

In the men's 1500, the Bears laid down The Law…MU freshman Jacob Law, that is. Law erased one of the Bears' longest-standing marks – a time of 4:10 by Michael Beattie in 2001 – by posting a time of 4:08.97. “Jacob ran a textbook race” said Bailey. “He followed his race plan and hit his splits almost exactly. He showed a pretty ferocious kick in the last 200 meters too. I knew he had it in him. He just needed to put things together and run a smart race”.

As evening fell, Clara Densmore, Christina Kivi and Kasie Knapper lined up for the 5K race. After a hot day, the conditions cooled off and were good for the runners as the race got underway.

Two of the Mercer women, Densmore and Kivi, finished the 12 1/2 lap, 3.1 mile race with season's best times. For Kivi, this was the continuation of a trend as she finished the Auburn race seven seconds faster than her former personal best (set at Emory just three weeks ago). Densmore's time of 20:03 was also a season's best and a full fifteen seconds faster than her 2009 performance at Auburn.

Roland Adams, Marc Kushinka, Chris Svidesskis and Andrew Jones competed in the final event of the evening for the Bears – the men's 5000 meters - and ended up making more Mercer history. Adams' time of 15:55 and Kushinka's 15:59 represent the first time two Mercer Bears have broken the 16:00 minute barrier in the same race. Svidesskis narrowly missed adding a third sub-sixteen minute performance, running just over the mark at 16:06.  

Adams' 15:55 is five seconds slower than his own record (15:50), but fast enough to claim the fourth position on the Mercer all-time list. Kushinka's time represents the fifth fastest performance.
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