2000 Spartan Women's Cross Country Season Recap
1/17/2001 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Jan. 17, 2001
The 2000 season was a battle for the women's Spartan cross country squad. The Spartans returned two powerful runners from their much-improved 1999 squad, sophomore Cindy Durocher and junior Ann Somerville. The team capped off their impressive '99 season with a team invite to the NCAA Championships where they finished 14th.
Unfortunately, though, 2000 season was not quite a repeat of the effort in '99. Injuries struck the team early, as Durocher was sidelined, leaving the crop of inexperienced freshmen to pick up the pace. The team looked to be headed in the right direction, winning the season-opening Spartan Invitational, placing three runners in the top five of the competition, including the winner (Somerville) and runner-up (Michelle Carson). The young Spartan squad looked to continue their progress September 23rd at the Great American Cross Country Festival. Pitted against some of the toughest competition in the southern region, the Spartans hoped their young runners would gain some valuable experience that would prepare them for competition in the Great Lakes Region. Somerville led the team, finishing seventh in the 5k race (17:20), only 12 seconds off the Big Ten's leading runner, 1999 NCAA Champion Erica Palmer (Wisconsin). However, Carson and Jamie Krzyminski were the only other two Spartan runners to place in the top 40, with Krzyminski finishing 18th and Carson 26th.
Bouncing back after a tough trip to the Festival, the Spartans ran at the annual Paul Short Invitational, placing three runners in the top ten. Again, the trio of Somerville, Krzyminski and Carson paced the MSU squad, placing third, fourth and ninth respectively. The 6k race at Paul Short was in preparation for the Great Lakes Regional, which was changed to a 6k race this year instead of the usual distance of 5k.
After a two-week prep period, the Spartans returned to action in the 2000 Big Ten Championships. Somerville entered the race expecting to challenge Palmer for the conference title. Somerville finished fourth at the Championships, earning All-Big Ten honors. Carson and Krzyminski again rounded out the team's top trio, with Carson finishing 19th and Krzyminski placing 23rd. The squad finished sixth in the Big Ten.
Regarded as one of the toughest running regions in the country, the Spartans faced their biggest challenge of the season at the Great Lakes Regional Championships. Somerville again stepped up to the challenge for MSU, finishing fifth and qualifying for a trip to the NCAA Championships. Though the team's season ended with a fifth place finish at the Great Lakes Regional, Somerville went on to place 27th at the Championship, earning All-America honors. Her finish was the third-highest in school history and capped off a strong junior season.
The team was also rewarded for their efforts in the classroom, Ann Somerville, Jackie Bergey, Shannon Houseman and Katie Bonner earning All-Big Ten Academic honors.
Spartan Invitational 5k- September 16, 2000
| 1. | Ann Somerville | 17:50.5 |
| 2. | Michelle Carson | 17:56.7 |
| 5. | Jamie Krzyminski | 18:16.7 |
| 14. | Kimi Landane | 19:00.8 |
| 17. | Jackie Bergey | 19:06.4 |
| 22. | Shannon Houseman | 19:20.3 |
| 29. | Katie Bonner | 19:43.4 |
| 32. | Sarah Pepera | 19:55.2 |
| 33. | Lorna Camp | 20:01.7 |
| 36. | Charla Eustice | 20:12.7 |
Great American Cross Country Festival 5k- September 23, 2000
| 7. | Ann Somerville | 17:20.0 |
| 18. | Jamie Krzyminski | 17:39.1 |
| 26. | Michelle Carson | 17:55.4 |
| 44. | Jackie Bergey | 18:35.1 |
| 83. | Kimi Landane | 19:11.3 |
| 84. | Sarah Pepera | 19:12.0 |
| 92. | Katie Bonner | 19:30.1 |
| 102. | Lorna Camp | 19:43.2 |
| 126. | Charla Eustice | 20:10.4 |
Paul Short Invitational 6k- October 6, 2000
| 3. | Ann Somerville | 21:14.62 |
| 4. | Jamie Kryzminski | 21:22.05 |
| 9. | Michelle Carson | 21:43.86 |
| 36. | Jackie Bergey | 22:16.22 |
| 93. | Kimi Landane | 23:12.27 |
| 107. | Katie Bonner | 23:20.98 |
| 120. | Shannon Houseman | 23:32.80 |
Big Ten Championship 5k- October 29, 2000
| 4. | Ann Somerville | 17:25 |
| 19. | Michelle Carson | 17:59 |
| 23. | Jamie Kryzminski | 18:03 |
| 43. | Jackie Bergey | 18:29 |
| 63. | Katie Bonner | 18:57 |
| 76. | Shannon Houseman | 19:16 |
| 87. | Kimi Landane | 19:41 |
| 91. | Sarah Pepera | 20:16 |
Great Lakes Region 6k- November 11, 2000
| 5. | Ann Somerville | 20:58.0 |
| 13. | Michelle Carson | 21:33.2 |
| 22. | Jamie Kryzminski | 21:50.8 |
| 87. | Katie Bonner | 22:54.7 |
| 95. | Jackie Bergey | 22:58.9 |
| 124. | Shannon Houseman | 23:29.0 |
| 159. | Kimi Landane | 24:15.4 |
