By
Chris Martin
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA places fourth at Roy Griak Invitational
Arizona junior Tara Chaplin doesn't run against the field anymore - she runs against herself.
The five-foot tall distance runner proved her elite status again Saturday at the Roy Griak Invitational, as Chaplin out distanced a field of 29 teams to capture the individual crown.
"She was definitely the class of the field," UA head coach Dave Murray said.
Chaplin won the 6000-meter course at Les Bolstad Golf Course in St. Paul, Minn., with a time of 21 minutes. The victory was Chaplin's second in as many races this season.
"She's great," junior Erin Doherty said. "I think we did really well. It was a very good start."
She controlled the invitational from the very beginning and pulled away from the field after the first 1000m and ended up winning by 50m against Lisa Aguilera of Arizona State.
UA finished fourth overall amounting 146 points only six more points than third place Arizona State. Host team Minnesota won the invitational with 98 points followed by Yale with 127 points.
Murray said he thought the team's showing at the Roy Griak Invitational was vindicating for the women who entered the season ranked 31st in the country.
"It was one of the best early season meets that I have been a part of," Murray said. "We beat a dozen teams that were ahead of us in the rankings. I felt that we were way under-ranked."
Along with Chaplin, the Wildcats placed its top four runner in the top-40.
Senior Katrin Engelen was the second finisher for UA, she came in 16th place solidifying her No. 2 position on the team.
Doherty placed 30th and was closely followed by sophomore Kimberely Bates who came in 37th.
"Erin Doherty I thought ran the best race she has ever run here," Murray said.
Arizona might have placed even higher had it had a better performance from its No. 5 runner - freshman Beth Hoge, who finished 62nd.
"I feel really good about (the invitational), particularly with the women," Murray said. "The key is to get someone to be our fifth runner."
The Wildcats will have two weeks to sort out its difficulties with the No. 5 position before heading to South Bend, Ind., to participate in the Notre Dame Invitational.
