Tracy Carskadon

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University will play host to the second annual Norse Cross Country Classic at 4:30 p.m. this Friday (Sept. 9) at A.J. Jolly Park in Alexandria, Ky.

A year ago, the NKU women captured first place in the inaugural Norse Cross Country Classic. Tracy Carskadon took first-place honors with a time of 19:26 in the women’s five-kilometer race.

Teammate Julianne Hoekzema finished in second place with a time of 19:36.

The NKU men posted a second-place finish last season in the eight-kilometer race. Keith Knapp was the Norse’s top finisher with a time of 26:55, which was good for ninth place overall.

Greaham Niemer placed 12th with a time of 27:13 and helped NKU finish second in the team standings with 66 points. Lewis took first-place honors last year with a score of 24.

The NKU men began the 2005 season last Saturday by placing three runners in the top 20 finishers at the University of Dayton’s Flyer 5K Challenge. NKU won the Division II race uncontested with Niemer taking the Division II individual title with a time of 16:04.

Niemer placed 14th in the overall competition, which featured six Division I schools. NKU freshman Zach Koehler posted a time of 16:07 and took 17th place for the Norse, while Knapp finished 20th with a time of 16:12.

In the women’s race, Hoekzema finished 10th overall with a time of 19:27. Carskadon captured 33rd place with a time of 20:43 for the Norse women, who also won the Division II race uncontested.

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