Oct. 9, 2006

DEBRECEN, Hungary - University of Dayton head women's cross country coach Ann Alyanak helped lead the women's U.S. running team to a 10th place finish at the World Running Championships on Sunday. Alyanak was among ten Americans to compete in the half-marathon event over the weekend. The U.S. men's team placed sixth at the race with Californian Ryan Hall setting a new American record in the 20km.

Team USA's Annie Bersagel of Minnesota led the way for the women, running 1:11:25 for 40th place. UD's own Ann Alyanak was close behind, crossing the finish line at 1:11:48 for 41st place. Completing the team scoring was Indiana's Erin Nehus who came in 42nd in a time of 1:11:51. Michigan's Desiree Davila finished 43rd (1:11:56) and Sonja Friend-Uhl of Florida came in at 1:12:41, good for 48th place.

Kenya won the women's team title in a cumulative time of 3:15:55. The women's individual winner was Lornah Kiplagat of the Netherlands who was timed in 1:03:21 for only a two second lead over the second place finisher. Kiplagat set a new World record for the 20km.

In the men's race, Ryan Hall of California set a new American record at the race, coming in at 57:54 making his way to an 11th place finish. His performance helped lead the men's team to a sixth place team finish overall. The other two scorers for the men's team included Andrew Carlson of Minnesota, who ran 1:00:12 to finish 30th and Oregon's Max King who was only seconds behind his teammate, finishing in a time of 1:00:36 for 34th place. Jose Driscoll of North Carolina placed 55th in 1:02:11 and Fernando Cabada of Virginia finished 72nd (1:03:52). The five members of Team USA will split $3,000 for the team performance.

The men's team from Kenya also won the World Running Championship title racing in a cumulative time of 2:51:18. Zersenay Tadesse from Eritrea was the individual winner coming in at 56:01. He was 13 seconds short of the World record for the 20km but took home his first world running title.

See head women's cross country coach Ann Alyanak lead the lady Flyers at the Falcon Invite on October 14th in Bowling Green, Ohio.