Ouachita Baptist University was fueled by Hannah Howard’s first place finish to lead the Lady Tigers to a team victory in the Monticello Invitational to open up the 2009 women’s cross country season.
Ouachita finished with 29 points to narrowly defeat Gulf South Conference opponents Henderson State ( 33) and Arkansas-Monticello. Howard, a senior from Nacogdoches, Texas, finished as the top female runner with a time of 20:16, followed by senior teammate Amanda Boyce in fourth place at 21:58. Senior Danielle Pickle closely followed with a 22:29 finish for sixth place.
Freshmen Kelsie Wilson and Aubree Fry finished in eighth and tenth place in their first collegiate meet, giving the Lady Tigers five runners among the top-10 finishers.
Ouachita returns to action for the annual Bob Gravett Invitational in Arkadelphia on Sept. 12. The meet will begin with junior high girls at 8:30 a.m., followed by the conclusion of the high school meets and beginning of the collegiate male and female races around 10:40 a.m. For more information on how to register for the Bob Gravett Invitational, contact Ouachita Head Coach Mike McGhee at mcgheem@obu.edu