The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA Championships
Jimenez and Behm conclude season at NCAA Cross Country Championships
11.23.2009 | XC: Women_Old, Track & Field / Cross Country
Nov. 23, 2009
Individual Results 
Team Results
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- University of Texas Women's Cross Country senior Betzy Jimenez and sophomore Mia Behm concluded the 2009 season at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., Monday morning. Jimenez finished 62nd while Behm placed 104th. The pair, who were competing as individuals, were the first Longhorns to qualify for the national meet since 2003.
Jimenez (Hereford, Texas) finished the 6K LaVern Gibson Championship Course in 21:02.9 for 62nd. The senior had qualified for the meet after finishing second overall at the NCAA South Central Regional Championship (Nov. 15).
Behm, a sophomore from Tyler, Texas clocked a 6K personal-best time of 21:20.3 for 104th at her first national championship meet. Behm took three seconds off her previous personal best (21:23.4) set just a week prior at the Regional Championship where she finished 11th overall. The sophomore earned a spot in the NCAA Championship with an at-large selection.
Villanova won the women's team title with 86 points while Angela Bizzarri of Illinois took home the individual title in 19:46.8.
Jimenez and Behm will now start preparations for the 2010 Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field season which begins on Jan. 15, 2010 at the Texas A&M Invitational and Leonard Hilton Memorial.
POST RACE QUOTES
Head Coach Steve Sisson
On Betzy Jimenez: I thought that Betzy was a little overwhelmed early but came on and finished well toward the end which is a testament to her career. The NCAA Cross Country Championship is a very difficult race to get to know and to run. It's the big show and it's very fast. Every second there's four or five other runners right by you so I think that overwhelmed her a little but I was proud of how she finished. At the NCAA championships, it's a very very difficult race to get to know and to run. It's the big show and its very fast and every second has every four or five other runners right by you.
On Mia Behm: I thought Mia ran really great today. She got really aggressive early on and I think it was a great experience for her as a sophomore to get to run at the national championship. Her and Betzy were together until about the 4K mark but that's when I think the experience kicked in. I'm really glad Mia got the opportunity to run and now she knows what to expect next year. Now we've got to turn our focus to the indoor and outdoor track and field season and I know both Betzy and Mia will be hungry to get back on the track.
