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Creighton cross country coach Chas Davis won the Omaha Corporate Cup with a performance that his athletes would be wise to analyze.
It wasn't just that the 27-year-old coach, who took over at CU this season after John Wissler retired, toured the 10-kilometer course Sunday morning in 32 minutes, 13 seconds.
A steady pace throughout the race allowed Davis to start his post-race interview before runner-up Jason Probasco turned the corner to run the half-block of Chicago Street to the finish line. Probasco, competing for First National Bank, finished in 33:21, 1:22 ahead of the next competitor.
“This is about as good a day as you're ever going to get for a race like this,” Davis said. “This year the field wasn't as strong as in the past, but there were a lot of people out there.”
Race officials said more than 10,000 people participated in the fund-raiser event for the American Lung Association, including about 3,400 in the 10K. There also was a two-mile run/walk. The temperature was in the upper 50s when the race started at 8:15 a.m.
Ex-Nebraska Wesleyan runner Brittany Hubbard won the women's race in 37:36, edging Andrea Bowen by four seconds.
Hubbard, a Gering native who is a wellness assistant for Union Bank in Lincoln, said she was competing in her first Corporate Cup. She said the flat course enabled her to run a little faster than she does on other road courses.
“I like rolling hills to change things up a little bit, but it was good to get out and push myself on a course like this,” Hubbard said. “There were some awesome runners out here. I was just trying to stay with them.”
Davis said he's happy to be back at Creighton after spending a season as an assistant coach in cross country and track and field at Oregon State. Davis competed in cross country for the Bluejays from 2001 to 2005 and was an assistant to Wissler before taking the job in Corvallis.
It's not uncommon to see Davis running with his athletes during practice sessions. Davis said both he and his athletes are still adapting to each other's styles, but so far things are progressing well as the season moves on.
“On some of the longer, easier runs I'll be out there with them,” Davis said. “As the season progresses, I might run more with them to help pace them and get ready for some of the bigger races.”
What he learned during his time at Oregon State is something Davis said he wouldn't have traded for any experience. He's excited to now have a chance to pass those lessons learned on to his Creighton charges.
“It's a runner's dream out there in Oregon,” Davis said. “That's the top level, being out there in the Pac 10 and learning from that whole experience. I'm excited I've been able to bring a lot of that back to Creighton.”
Men's leaders: 1, Chas Davis, 32:13. 2, Jason Probasco, 33:21. 3, Torry Zeller, 34:43. 4, Christopher Stiffler, 34:52. 5, Dylan Wilson, 35:00. 6, Jordan Tucker, 35:20. 7, Brady Murphy, 35:33. 8, Luke Christiansen, 35:37.
9, Gerald Kubiak, 35:49. 10, Todd Prauner, 36:07.
Women's leaders: 1, Brittany Hubbard, 37:36. 2, Andrea Bowen, 37:40. 3, Gina Morgan, 37:53. 4, Christy Nielsen, 38:20. 5, Kaylen Stockton, 38:32. 6, Courtney Mann, 39:18. 7, Kathleen Neary, 39:37. 8, Abby Knight, 39:44. 9, Emily Kraus, 39:52. 10, Bridget Easley, 39:52.
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444-1201, sports@owh.com
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