Sept. 4, 2001

The Unviersity of Houston women's cross country team opened the 2001 season in impressive fashion as the Lady Cougars combined for the top four places at the Rice Relays on August 31.

Freshman Kelly McCarty made her collegiate debut and teamed with junior Julie Perez to win the women's division of the Rice Relays on August 31. McCarty and Perez finished the 5,400-meter course in 19:49.7.

They edged teammates Jessie Oakes, a sophomore from Springfield, Ohio, and Kim Stallman, a junior from Columbus, Texas. Oakes and Stallman finished in a combined time of 20:05.8.

In addition, freshman Veronica Ramirez competed unattached and teamed with senior Monica Reyna to finish third in 20:21.6.

Juniors Heather Howse and Vanessa Golston competed as an unattached team and finished fourth with a time of 20:29.6.

In the men's division, freshman Cole Dailey made his debut for Houston's men's cross country team and teamed with Mike Olague to finish third. Dailey and Olague finished the 10,800-meter course in 35:24.3. Olague competed in the event as an unattached runner.

Senior Kevin Ward and sophomore Juan Cardenas combined to finish sixth in the race with a time of 37:02.0, while freshmen Carolos Rivas and Justin Urrutia were 11th in a time of 38:12.3.