Temple University Athletics
2005 Women's Cross Country Review
9.12.06 | Women's Cross Country
Nov. 30, 2005
PHILADELPHIA - Paced by freshman Angela Washko and highlighted by defeating St. Bonaventure for 13th place at the Atlantic 10 Championships, the 2005 women's cross country season was a historic one. After officially adding the sport on August 16, head coach Stefanie Scalessa scrambled to find both athletes and competition. She did both and for the first time in 20 years, the Owls took the hill and dale on September 23 at Haverford.
Washko opened her career with a 37th place finish at Haverford, covering the three-mile course in 19:46.50. Jennette von Bargen, a junior transfer from Gettysburg College, was just over a minute behind her for 63rd. Sophomore Mary Claire Curran (70th), classmate Shanice DePass (72nd) and junior Rachael Angstadt (98th) rounded out Temple's five runners.
The next week, the Owls battled not only the competition at the Monmouth Invitational, but Mother Nature. Running in heavy downpours, Washko led the way for Temple with a sixth place finish on the 5k course in 21:37. Curran followed her with a tenth place finish, followed by DePass (20th), von Bargen (24th), and Angstadt (40th). As a team, TU placed third in the tri-meet and was narrowly edged by Delaware State, 49-52.
In its final tune-up before the conference championships, Temple headed south to the Delaware Invitational at White Clay Creek State Park. Washko again paced the Owls, finishing 17th and traversing the 6k course in a time of 25:27.26. Curran was 30th overall and second for the Cherry and White and was followed by junior Rachel Johnson (64th), who made her first appearance on the cross country squad. Angstadt was right behind her in 65th and was the fourth and final finisher for TU.
Washko finished 80th at the Atlantic 10 Championships and a total team effort propelled the Owls past St. Bonaventure, 413-454, for 13th place. Curran (106th) and DePass (110th) broke the 22:00 mark on the 5k course for second and third, respectively, for TU. Von Bargen (114th), Angstadt (119th), and Johnson (124th) rounded out the Temple contingent in its first ever Atlantic 10 Championship.
With no seniors on the roster, the future is bright for the Temple women's cross country program. Next season, Scalessa will have a full year to recruit top talent from the area and beyond to help take the program to new heights.
