Sept. 25, 2004

FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. -- The second-ranked Providence College women's cross country team finished first out of 29 teams at the Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday, September 25 at Falcon Heights, Minn. For Providence, it marked its fourth overall Roy Griak title and the first since 1998. Senior All-American Kim Smith (Auckland, New Zealand) won the individual title for the second consecutive season and became only the second repeat champion in the 19-year-old history of the prestigious event.

Providence (58 points) finished ahead of Arizona State (81 points) and UC Santa Barbara (145 points). Smith, who was making her 2004 cross country debut after representing New Zealand at the Summer Olympics, recorded a time of 20:10, which is a course record. Senior All-American Mary Cullen (Sligo, Ireland) also was impressive as she finished fourth in a time of 20:48. Providence had three runners finish in the top 10 as junior Fiona Crombie (Christchurch, New Zealand) took seventh-place in a time of 21:12. Senior Deirdre Byrne (Wicklow, Ireland) finished 19th (21:49), while classmate Katie Twarog (Albany, N.Y.) placed 27th.

Providence returns to action on Saturday, September 16 at the Penn State Invitational at University Park, Pa.

Roy Griak Invitational -- Individual Finishes (Top 10)
Place   Name            School          Time
1       Kim Smith       Providence      20:10
2       Missy Buttry    Wartburg        20:33
3       Amy Hastings    Arizona State   20:41
4       Mary Cullen     Providence      20:48
5       Megan Metcalfe  West Virginia   20:55
6       Cack Ferrell    Princeton       20:55
7       Fiona Crombie   Providence      21:12
8       Brittany BrockmanBaylor         21:19
9       Kate Gorry      Rice            21:27
10      Lauren Harmon   Oregon          21:27

19      Deirdre Byrne   Providence      21:49
27      Katie Twarog    Providence      21:59
40      Jane Nalder     Providence      22:20
91      Mary Nelle TrefzProvidence      23:05
197     Michelle Childs Providence      24:16

Team Finishes (Top 10 of 29)
1. Providence 58
2. Arizona State 81
3. UC Santa Barbara 145
4. Baylor 169
5. Arkansas 189
6. Butler 199
7. West Virginia 213
8. Texas Tech 254
9. Penn State 282
10. Colorado State 292