Pittsburgh Cross Country Teams Start 2001 Campaign on Good Note

9/9/2001

Senior Amanda Schmidt captured the women's race in 18:03

PITTSBURGH-The University of Pittsburgh men's and women's cross country teams began the 2001 campaign on the right foot as they both posted impressive outings on Saturday at the Duquesne University Duals. The women's squad went a perfect 7-0 while the men's team recorded a 5-2 record.

On the women's side, Pittsburgh captured four finishes in the top 10, including senior Amanda Schmidt (Annapolis, Md./Broadneck) winning the women's meet in 18:03. Placing second was freshman Lauren Shaffer (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) with a time of 18:31, while fellow freshman Maureen McCandless (Bensalem, Pa./Nazareth Academy) finished third in 18:40. Sophomore Dawn Hilgert (Columbia, Pa./Lancaster Catholic) was the final Panther in the top 10 as she registered a time of 19:22.

Pittsburgh's women defeated Duquesne, St. Francis, Robert Morris, Monmouth, Wheeling Jesuit, Carnegie Mellon and Niagara en route to the perfect weekend.

Sophomore Dan Hull (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) was the top Panther finisher for the men's team. Hull finished in 22:34 and placed 11th overall. Freshman Nick Westerman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) finished in 16th place in 22:58, while sophomore Mike Diano (Penn Hills, Pa./Penn Hills) earned a 19th-place finish with a time of 23:02.

The Panther men's squad recorded victories over Robert Morris, Monmouth, Wheeling Jesuit, Carnegie Mellon and Niagara, while falling to Duquesne and St. Francis.

Both teams are back in action next weekend at the Spike Shoe Invitational at State College, Pa.