Results

BOULDER, Colo. – The Fort Lewis College cross country teams gained valuable experience against some of the top NCAA Division I and II teams at last weekend's Rocky Mountain Shootout, hosted by the University of Colorado.

Sophomore Kip Mutai was able to gauge where he stands against top regional competition, finishing 16th among non-Division I runners with a time of 26:26 in the 8k event.

Mutai was followed by teammates Jeff Hofferber (27:21, 30th), Derek Laue (27:48, 40th), Justin Miller (28:35, 58th), Michael Birgen (28:58, 68th), Randy Nez (28:58, 69th) and Josh Benson (29:46, 79th).

Skyhawks who competed but didn't occupy a team place in the standings (only the top seven occupy places in team scoring, with the top five actually accruing points) included Jesse Allen (30:00), Alex Colvin (30:03), Patrick Tso (30:04), Alex Kilman (30:07), Dominick Bitsui (30:41), Walter Delwiche (30:53), Rashawn Ramone (31:39), Alex Byrne (32:25) and Kyle Stoddard (35:49). Logan Ott ran unattached and finished at 28:41.

Among non-NCAA Division I teams, the Fort Lewis men finished eighth among 15 teams with 212 points. Adams State won the men's non-Division I competition with 22 points and the top three individual finishers, including Ryan McNiff, who ran the 8k course in 25:11. Western State was second with 70 points, followed by Metro State (118), Colorado College (145), New Mexico Highlands (154), Garden City Community College (183), Colorado Mines (192) and Fort Lewis (212).

The Skyhawk women were paced by senior Ashley Kelly, who completed the 5.8k course in 23:41, good for 23rd among non-NCAA Division I runners. Kelly, who was hampered by injuries earlier this season, competed for the first time in 2010.

She was followed by Helen Smith (24:29, 38th), Maddie Kruger (24:45, 49th), Liz Schwab (25:53, 69th), Megan Derschang (26:18, 74th), Morgan Love (28:04, 93rd) and Gentry Peppin (28:52, 95th).

Jaclin Guthrie (26:48) and Shelby Schaefer (28:04) competed as unattached runners.

Among non-NCAA Division I teams, the Fort Lewis women finished tenth among 15 teams with 253 points. Adams State won the women's non-Division I competition with 31 points and the top individual finisher, Kristin McGlynn, who completed the 5.8k course in 20:56. Western State was second with 38 points, followed by Mesa State (124), Regis (139), Montana State-Billings (159), UC-Colorado Springs (167), Colorado College (179), Colorado Christian (233), Metro State (235) and Fort Lewis (253).

The Skyhawks compete in the Chile Pepper Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., at 10 a.m. Saturday.