Princeton University Athletics
Spence, Ferrell Have Top U.S. Finishes at World Cross Country Championships in Kenya
March 26, 2007 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
In front of nearly 30,000 fans in Mombasa, Kenya, Princeton graduates Mike Spence '00 and Cack Ferrell '06 finished as the top United States finishers at the 35th annual IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
Ferrell, a Minnesota native now living in Eugene, Ore., was an impressive 30th in the Senior Women's race, contested over an 8K circuit. Ferrell finished the course in 29:34 on a day when temperatures were in the 90's with high humidity, forcing many runners to drop out of the race.
Spence, who lives in Ogden, Utah, was the 55th finisher in a punishing 12K race in the extreme heat. He finished the course in 39 minutes, 32 seconds.
Ferrell also organized and led the U.S. contingent on a trip to a school in Mombasa, St. Peter's The Rock Junior School, where the U.S. team delivered 52 pairs of shoes to the schoolchildren.
The race, held at Mombasa Golf Course, was contested under heavy security. The U.S men finished 11th in the team competition, while the U.S. women finished eighth. Host Kenya was the winner in both races.
Spence was a two-time first-team All-Ivy performer in cross country for Princeton, twice finishing second overall at the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships. Ferrell earned All-America honors three times in cross country and six times overall for Princeton, which she also led to three straight NCAA championship appearances as a team.