Wishard, Allison Lead Waves in Season Opener
8/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Wishard (Kauai, Hawaii/Kauai HS) placed two seconds ahead of teammate and freshman Lauren Lodge (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton HS) on the three-mile course, 18:51 to 18:53, and Allison (Canyon, Texas/Canyon HS) finished surrounded by a pride of Lions at the 16-minute mark.
Allison’s time was a 33 second improvement from last year’s open held Sept. 1.
Pepperdine’s strong showings up front weren’t enough for either team to claim a victory. The Waves were edged on the women’s side, 25-31; after five Lions led by Brieanna Delaney went on to capture the third through seventh places.
Delaney finished the race 23 seconds behind Lodge at 19:16.
“For the women’s team it’s exciting to have a one-two finish against Loyola Marymount, one of the best teams in our conference, and they (Wishard and Lodge) we’re well out there,” Pepperdine third-year head coach Robert Radnoti said. “Once we get Brieanna (Carroll) back from her ROTC training in
Carroll (
Lodge led most of the race – and was far ahead of the pack heading into the final mile – but Wishard conserved her energy for a major push down Stick Tree Hill at
“Wishard caught Lodge over the last half mile, but they’re good friends so it’s no big deal between them of who’s first or second,” Radnoti said. “We want to see our runners out there taking the lead and mixing it up with the best.”
LMU won 17-45 on the men’s side as Thomas Finnigan, Trevor Wiseman, Brian McDonald, Connor Pastoor and Phillip Benavides all came across the finish line together at 16:00.
Wave sophomore David Williams (
Pepperdine cross country continues its season next Saturday, Sept. 6 with a trip to the UC Irvine/Asics Invitational. Racing begins at 9 a.m.
