Men's Results • Women's Results
Salmon, Harding lead Xavier runners
For immediate release . . . September 29, 2007

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — David Salmon ran 8,000 meters in 27 minutes, 21 seconds — the fastest by a Xavier University of Louisiana runner in the past two seasons — and finished 19th out of 128 runners Saturday in the Rhodes Invitational cross country meet at Plough Park.

Salmon, a freshman from Shorewood, Wis., has finished in the top 20 of all five Xavier races and beaten 88 percent of his opponents.

Teammate Darren Wallace, finished 41st in 28:15, less two seconds slower than his career best.

The Gold Rush entered the meet with a 23-3 record but placed 10th out of 12 schools with 239 points for its first lower-division finish of the season. Texas-Tyler was first with 42 points, and the Patriots' R.J. Cowan won the race in a school-record 25:39.

In the women's race, Xavier's Ebony Harding ran 5,000 meters in 20:51 to finish 30th in a field of 137. The junior has led the Gold Nuggets in all 11 of her races in two seasons. Teammates Lonique Moore (21:49) and Ashley Broden (21:51) finished 55-56, and both recorded season bests at that distance.

Xavier's women scored 257 points to place 10th out of 15 teams. Birmingham-Southern was first with 79 points, and Emily Malinowski of Memphis won the race in 18:29.

Xavier will return to Memphis next Saturday for the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic at Mike Rose Soccer Complex. It will be Xavier's final meet before the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Championships on Oct. 20 at Highland Road Park in Baton Rouge, La.