Oct. 9, 2007

Boston, Mass. - Men's and women's cross country assistant coach Mandi Zemba continued her stellar running career by finishing 10th in the TUFTS Health Plan 10K on Monday, Oct. 8. Zemba finished with a time of 33:43.1 at the race in Boston, Mass., one of just three women 24 or younger to crack the top 10.

"This field had many of the best women distance runners that the United States has to offer," said GVSU head track & field/cross country coach Jerry Baltes. "We are very proud of what Mandi continues to do with her training and her racing."

Deena Kastor, a 34-year old from Mammoth Lakes, Cali. won the event with a time of 32:01.0. Zemba was one of three runners from Michigan to finish in the top 25, the others being Melissa White from Royal Oak (8th, 33:27.2) and Dot McMahan from Royal Oak (19th, 34:22.6).

"This was a great way for Mandi to finish out her racing seasono coming off her final season of competing for GVSU and her summer track races," Baltes said.

Zemba will now turn her focus to rebuilding her base for the U.S. Cross Country Championships in Feb., and then focus on her quest to make a United States Olympic Team next summer.