Tulane University
Tulane Invitational
![Green Wave freshman Rachel Bryan wins the Tulane Invitational in her debut race. [Photo by Ned Dishman]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Ftulanegreenwave.com%2Fimages%2F2004%2F9%2F3%2F23863.jpeg&height=300&type=webp)
Freshman Rachel Bryan Wins Tulane Cross Country Invitational
Sep 3, 2004 | Cross Country
Sept. 3, 2004
GRETNA, La. - Highly-touted Green Wave freshman Rachel Bryan opened her career in style with a victory in the Tulane Invitational on Friday afternoon at Gretna Park. The Green Wave women finished third while the Wave men took fourth place. South Alabama won the men's title and Southern Miss had four runners in the top eight to win the women's race.
"I am so excited," Tulane head coach Heather Van Norman said. "When you look at the overall standings, we have so many young runners, our top three were freshman and they will only get better. This is our first chance to see the talent that we have worked so hard to put together and I can't wait until next weekend's race."
Bryan, a freshman from Elk Grove, Calif., has been one of the top high school runners in the nation over the last two years. On Friday, she opened her collegiate career with a time of 18:02 to easily out-distance the 67-runner field over the three-mile course.
"Eighteen-oh-two is a great three-mile time for a very muddy course," said Green Wave assistant coach Mike Corn, who oversees the cross country runners. "She definitely lived up to expectations and Aubrey [Phillips] finishing fourth was really good also. I couldn't be happier with the way those two ran. Hannah Carlson also had a great first race."
Phillips, from Baton Rouge, is another top recruit. She posted a time of 18:49 for fourth place. Carlson was 18th in a time of 20:22. The Green Wave was hurt by the loss of top returnee Lisa Green, who was forced to drop out due to an ankle injury, though it is not considered serious.
On the men's side, junior Philip Aagaard, who was Tulane's top finished in five of seven races in 2003, picked up where he left off, finishing ninth overall in 21:57 on the four-mile course. However, he only narrowly edged 2003 Louisiana Freshman of the Year Tyler Chapman, who posted a time of 21:59. Sophomore Kevin Martes notched a time of 22:02 to earn 12th place in the 58-runner field.
"Philip gave us what we expected but I was especially pleased with Tyler Chapman and Kevin Martes," Corn said. "Tyler ran a good, smart race."
South Alabama won the men's race with 50 points as teammates Tonny Okello and Henry Larubi finished one-two. Okello covered the four-mile course in 20:29 to edge his teammate. Arkansas State was second with 62 points, followed by Southeastern Louisiana (69 points) and Tulane (71). UNO (85), Jackson State (143) and Nicholls State (180) rounded out the field.
In the women's race, Southern Miss (31 points) was followed by UNO (75 points) and Tulane (86 points. South Alabama (117) took fourth place with Arkansas State (122) finishing fifth. Southeastern Louisiana (145), Loyola (174), Nicholls State (181) and Georgia College (214) rounded out the field.
Tulane returns to action next Friday, Sept. 10, at the Southern Miss Invitational in Hattiesburg, Miss.
Tulane Invitational, September 3, 2004
Men (four miles):
9. Philip Aagaard: 21:57
10. Tyler Chapman: 21:59
12. Kevin Martes: 22:02
27. Dave Posnick: 23:07
30. Will Landry: 23:11
Women:
1. Rachel Bryan: 18:02
4. Aubrey Phillips: 18:49
19. Hannah Carlson: 20:22
32. Erin Colligan: 21:10
35. Sarah Bumby: 21:22
54. Tracy Singer: 22:59
63. Megan Goedewaagen: 25:15
Players Mentioned
