Cross Country
Friday, the Saint Louis University women’s cross country had a phenomenal showing at the 2002 National Catholic Invitational meet at the University of Notre Dame.
The Billikens ran to their best showing in SLU history at the annual meet.
The Bills placed six runners in the top 70 and placed fifth as a team overall out of 28 teams. Senior Aimee Walther led the way with a 27th place finish, turning in a time of 19:41 for the five kilometer course.
Janelle Decker was the next best finisher for the Billikens and placed 49th, completing the course in 20:16.
The men’s cross country team finished at a solid 16th place and was led by sophomore Joe Porter in the eight kilometer race. Porter posted a time of 27:40 and finished in 73rd place overall.
Behind Porter, Pat Henchy placed 78th with a time of 27:40.
This weekend, SLU hosts the 2002 National Cross Country Only National Championships at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
Golf
The golf team placed fifth out of nine teams at the Blue Demon Invitational in Chicago, Ill. this weekend. The Bills finished the course with their best score in the third and final round of the tournament.
Freshman David Perritt earned his first career top-five finish with a score of 70 in the final round, which was good enough for third place.
Sophomore Evan Frederick tied for eighth place, while senior Adam Trower finished in 33rd place by shaving strokes off his totals in each round.
Josh Campbell turned in a score of 236 for the three rounds, while Mike Higgason finished the meet with a score of 256 and a 47th place finish.
Tennis
The men’s tennis team had a strong first meet of the fall season at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill. Ikaika Jobe set the tone for the match, winning the No. 1 singles slot 6-0, 6-1.
Thomas Kwong won the No. 2 singles bracket 6-1, 6-0, while No. 3 Tom de Larzac posted the only other singles win for the men.
The women’s team swept WIU, winning every singles and doubles match of the outing.
Melisa Lemus won in straight sets 6-0, 6-0 to claim the No. 1 singles bracket, while No. 2 Vicki Zielinski won 7-5, 6-1. Amy O’Handley went to three sets but won 1-6, 6-1, 6-1.
No. 4 Erin Kersten posted scores of 6-3, 6-2 for the win and Melissa Cutler won the No. 5 slot in straight sets. Lindsay Winninger closed the outing for the Bills with a 6-2, 6-0 win.
McBride honored
At halftime on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Robert R. Hermann Stadium, the Billikens will officially retire former Billiken Brian McBride’s number 20 jersey to honor him as the school’s all-time leading scorer.
McBride racked up 184 points while at SLU (1990-1993), including 72 goals and 40 assists. McBride was twice honored as an All-American and was named the Great Midwest Conference’s MVP in 1991, 1992 and 1993.
Today, McBride is fourth in goal scoring with 20 goals as a member of the U.S. National Team, including six goals in World Cup qualifying matches. McBride has compiled 47 points in his years as a national team member.
McBride is in his seventh year in Major League Soccer with the Columbus Crew.
