Braving sub-zero temperatures and even occasional snow, three members of the women's cross-country team placed within the top-25 of their respective events at the USA Cross Country Championships this weekend in New York.
In what head coach Norm Ogilvie characterized as "the highlight of the weekend," freshman Maddie McKeever finished sixth in the 6K at New York City's Van Cortlandt Park with a time of 20:48. With the result, McKeever qualified for the USA Cross Country team that will compete at the junior World Championships in Japan in April.
"It's always an honor when any Duke athlete competes for the U.S.," Ogilvie said. "We're very happy for what she did, finishing first in a national field."
Senior Shannon Rowbury came in first among all collegiate entrants Sunday in the senior women's 4K with a time of 13:02. Fellow seniors Sally Meyerhoff and Natasha Roetter took home 15th and 50th place, respectively, in the women's 6K.
"I'm sure they didn't mind running outside in the cold," Ogilvie said. "It was snowing while Maddie was running.... They were braving the elements. That's what cross-country is all about."
While some of their cross country teammates competed in New York, several members of the Track and Field Team qualified for next weekend's ACC Indoor Championships with their performances at the Virginia Tech Challenge this weekend.
Freshman Nick Trombold moved up the Duke record books with his performances in the 400-meter and 500-meter runs.
For the women, freshman Kelly McCann qualified for the ECAC Championship in the 500-meter event.
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