Xiamar Richards leads APSU Lady Govs Cross Country in Louisville

Louisville, KY – Led by senior Xiamar Richards’ third consecutive runner-up finish, Austin Peay State University women’s cross-country team finished fourth overall in the women’s five-kilometer blue race at Saturday’s Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic, hosted by Louisville at E.P. ‘Tom’ Sawyer State Park.

The Lady Govs finished fourth out of 51 schools, a big jump from last season’s 39th-place finish. Richards, who was 82nd last season, moved up 80 spots for her third runner-up finish in 2013, joining her second-place results at the Fleet Feet Sports Earl Jacoby Memorial in Huntsville (September 14th) and the Powerade Invitational in Chattanooga (September 6th). This week’s runner-up mark came in a huge field; the blue race, the second of three races at the Greater Louisville Classic, featured 329 runners.

Richards’ 17:50.98 mark was 13 seconds behind Evansville’s Kelby Jenkins and 13 seconds ahead of Detroit’s Louisa Coppola. Richards has developed something of a nemesis in Evansville’s Jenkins, who was the only runner to finish ahead of Richards three weeks ago at Huntsville.

“CiCi did an outstanding job,” said head coach Doug Molnar. “She might be a contender for the NCAA’s if she keeps running like this and improving from week to week.”

Senior Chantelle Grey placed inside the top 20 for the third time this season. She finished 20th overall and 11th among Division I runners with an 18:58.72 mark.

Senior Kimberly Dominguez was hot on Grey’s heels with a 22nd-place, 19:01.49 mark. Senior Kendra Kirksey was not far behind her with a 19:14.76, good for 39th.

Freshman Jessica Gray rounded out the counting scores for Austin Peay, finishing 149th with a 20:16.57 mark. Fellow freshman Molly Jordan, who had been the Lady Govs No. 5 finisher in each of the first three races, suffered a hip injury early in the race and finished 304th (22:51.25).

“I thought our two-three-four had a nice pack,” Molnar said. “Molly’s injury hurt us, but that’s the nature of the game and everybody’s got to pick up the slack. I thought Jessica did a good job in that role.”

Sophomore Alexis Eldridge (166th, 20:24.77) and freshman Unjala Lester (264th, 21:37.73) also competed for the Lady Govs.

The Lady Govs return to action at the Front Runner Invite in Chattanooga, October 19th, Austin Peay’s final race before the OVC Cross-Country Championships.