Skieresz and Abdirahman headed for nationals

Adam F. Jarrold Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior Amy Skieresz stays far ahead of her competition in Saturday's Far West Region cross country championships. Skieresz took first with a time of 16 minutes and 59.9 seconds.

The men's really did not, either.

Saturday's Far West Regional cross country championships went pretty much as expected, with UA junior Amy Skieresz winning the individual title easily and the Stanford men's and women's teams dominating both races to take home the team titles.

The meet was held at the Dell Urich Golf Course in central Tucson.

"It was good," said Skieresz of her time of 16 minutes, 59.9 seconds. "It went just how I planned it."

She beat her nearest competition, Stanford freshman Julia Stamps, by 13.5 seconds. Stamps, who never lost in high school, was third behind Skieresz at the Pacific 10 Conference Championships two weeks ago.

As a team, the UA women came in fourth behind Stanford, Oregon and Washington.

"The women ran their best meet of the year," said UA head coach Dave Murray.

Coming in behind Skieresz was senior Virginia Camacho (12th, 17:47.6), followed by senior Tone Bratteng (28th, 18:38.9), freshman Erin Doherty (40th, 18:51.1), freshman Katrin Engelen (46th, 18:56.5), sophomore Kristen Parrish (59th, 19:12.9) and sophomore Maia Wright (118th, 20:05.5).

"Virginia gave it every ounce she had," Murray said.

Camacho felt disappointed that she did not qualify for Saturday's NCAA Championships in Greenville, S.C., but she said that at least there were "not as many sad faces around here as at the Pac-10's."

The women came in a disappointing fifth in that race.

"I'm just glad we don't have anymore races," Engelen said. "I've never been more tired than I am right now."

Murray said that of all his runners, Doherty impressed him the most.

"Her time was so much better than what she's had before," he said. "She ran more competitively than she's ever run before. She showed what she'll be capable of in the future."

Doherty credited the home crowd with her performance.

"My time was partly from the people cheering us on," she said. "Also because I just knew it was our last chance (to get to nationals)."

Skieresz, who ran out to a big lead only two minutes into the race, earned the praise of her teammates.

"She's just amazing," Bratteng said. "It's a really great honor to be on a team with her."

Skieresz, though, said her victory was tempered by the fact that her teammates might not be going with her.

"I'm upset cause we're not all going," she said. "The last two years we've all gone and I'll miss them this year."

The Wildcats still have an outside chance of making it to nationals. The top two teams qualified automatically, and four at-large bids will be given out to the next four best teams across the nation.

On the men's side, UA junior Abdi Abdirahman came in third behind UCLA's Mebrahtom Keflezighi and Washington State's Bernard Lagat.

"It feels great," Abdirahman said. "It was my last chance. I only had one run to make it (to nationals)."

Murray was especially impressed because Abdirahman had been sick the night before.

"He didn't sleep at all," Murray said. "To run 30:36 on this course is outstanding."

As a team, the Wildcat men came in sixth, only two points behind the fourth place University of Portland.

"As a team we were just not there," freshman David Lopez said. Lopez came in 24th with a time of 32:03.7.

The rest of the UA men included senior Margarito Casillas (30th, 32:12.3), sophomore Jeremy Lyon (42nd, 32:36.4), junior Jeff McLarty (53rd, 32:58.9), senior Jon Lansa (87th, 33:56.5) and sophomore Micheil Jones (91st, 34:07).

"I'm for my guys, they did great this year," said Casillas, the graduating team captain. "I just want to wish them the best for next year."

Skieresz and Abdirahman take off for nationals late this week. The announcement of the four at-large bids will be held today.