Oct. 28, 2005

The University of Colorado swept the 2005 Big 12 Cross Country Championships, winning both the women's and the men's team titles.

• Video Highlights | • Photo Gallery
• Men's Results | • Women's Results

WACO, Texas -- The University of Colorado swept the 2005 Big 12 Cross Country Championships, winning both the women's and the men's team titles. The championships were hosted by Baylor University at the Bear Run Cross Country Course in Waco, Texas.

Kansas' Benson Chesang and Colorado's Christine Bolf claimed the individual titles. Colorado has won every men's Big 12 Championship since the conference begun competition in 1996. The CU women have won all but one of the last ten, Kansas State won in 1998.

In the men's race, Chesang finished the 8,000-meter course in 23:45 and fought off the second-place finisher, Texas' Joe Thorne (23:48), to claim his second Big 12 Championship. Chesang and Thorne were followed by the Longhorn's Erik Stanley (23:51) and the Red Raider's Kevin Chelimo (23:56).

On the Women's side, Bolf pulled through for Colorado, helping the Buffs win their seventh consecutive Big 12 team and individual title. Bolf finished the 6,000-meter course in 20:24 and CU took the top two spots in the finishing order. The Buffs' Jennifer Barringer crossed the line second (20:34), followed by Texas Tech's Violet Chemakwila in third (20:39) and Baylor's Brittany Brockman in fourth (20:42).

All-Big 12 honors went to the top 15 finishers in both the men's and the women's events.

Texas Tech's Chelimo was the men's Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, while Colorado's Barringer claimed the women's honor. Both were the top finishing runners in their respective races in their first season competing in the Big 12 Conference.

2005 BIG 12 CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Bear Run Cross Country Course (Waco, Texas)

Men's Team Scores: 1. Colorado 44 points; 2. Texas 52 points; 3. Kansas 68 points; 4. Oklahoma State 92 points; 5. Missouri 182 points; 6. Iowa State 188 points; 7. Texas A&M 202 points; 8. Kansas State 234 points; 9. Texas Tech 246 points; 10. Nebraska 288 points; 11. Oklahoma 291 points; 12. Baylor 346 points

Top 15 Men's Finishers (All-Big 12 honorees): 1. Benson Chesang, KU, 23:45; 2. Joe Thorne, UT, 23:48; 3. Erik Stanley, UT, 23:51; 4. Kevin Chelimo, TTU, 23:56; 5. Stephen Pifer, CU, 23:56; 6. Bret Schoolmeester, CU, 24:06; 7. Kiel Uhl, ISU; 24:06; 8. James Strang, CU, 24:11; 9. Billy Nelson, CU, 24:16; 10. Colby Wissel, KU, 24:20; 11. Matthew Munoz, UT, 24:20; 12. Joe Gray, OSU, 24:21; 13. Paul Hefferon, KU, 24:21; 14. Kyle Miller, UT, 24:23; 15. Devenport, OSU, 24:25

Women's Team Scores: 1. Colorado 38 points; 2. Oklahoma State 53 points; 3. Baylor 69 points; 4. Missouri 117 points; 5. Nebraska 129 points; 6. Texas Tech 153 points; 7. Texas A&M 201 points; 8. Kansas 214 points; 9. Iowa State 289 points; 10. Kansas State 294 points; 11. Texas 313 points; 12. Oklahoma 330 points

Top 15 Women's Finishers (All-Big 12 honorees): 1.Christine Bolf, CU, 20:24; 2. Jennifer Barringer, CU, 20:34; 3. Violet Chemakwila, TTU, 20:39; 4. Brittany Brockman, BU, 20:42; 5. Mary Davies, OSU, 20:48; 6. Liza Pasciuto, CU, 20:49; 7. Valentina Medina, OSU, 20:57; 8. Erin Bedell, BU, 21:05; 9. Valerie Lauver, MU, 21:08; 10. Irene Kimaiyo, TTU, 21:13; 11. Kalin Toedebusch, CU, 21:14; 12. Barbora Kuncoua, OSU, 21:18; 13. Nina Anderson, OSU, 21:18; Lauren Hagans, BU, 21:25; 15. Kayte Tranel, NU, 21:25