Catamount Cross Country Women Win the 2007 Western Carolina Invitational; Men Place Third
Two-hour rain/lightning delay lengthens the season-opening event
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina won the women's competition and placed third on the men's side in the rain-lengthened WCU Cross Country Invitational Friday evening at the Catamount Athletic Complex. On the women's side, senior Kerrie Savery won the individual medalist honors, with sophomore Stephen Hammond leading the Catamount men with a 12th-place run.
After completing approximately a mile and a quarter of the women's 5-K race, thunderstorms equipped with thunder, lightning, wind and rain ravaged through the Valley forcing a two-hour delay. Once the NCAA-mandated lightning policy time allotment has expired, the event resumed with the men taking to the course first.
Clemson runners accounted for four of the top five finishers in the men's 8-K competition, led by medalist Tyler Morey with a time of 20:34.7, four seconds ahead of his teammate, Chad Holt, in second place. Breaking up the Tiger parade at the front of the field was Gardner-Webb's Lucas McAneney, tripping the tape at 20:41.4 in third place.
The Tigers (19 pts) were followed by Mars Hill (59), Western Carolina in third and Gardner-Webb in fourth place with Carson-Newman College withdrawing from the event following the rain.
Hammond led the WCU runners with time of 20:31.5 in 12th place, followed by a trio of Catamounts in 19 through 21. Junior Jessie Ramirez (21:53.9) led the three, followed by sophomore Todd Davidson (21:58.0) and freshman Josh Walker (22.02.2).
Western's Savery raced her way through the pack to win the women's 5-K, pacing a WCU sweep of the top four positions. Following Savery's time of 12:14.5 was second-place finisher, sophomore Lindsay Groce who crossed the line five seconds in arrears at 12:19.1. Freshman Jordan Gaddy ran third in her first-ever collegiate event one second off of second-place, with junior Skye Aiello (12:28.1) rounding the Catamounts' sweep of the top four finishing positions with sophomore Leigh Nicholson (12:37.6) finishing with a top 10 in seventh place.
Following the Catamounts (16 points) were Gardner-Webb (53) and Mars Hill (55), again with Carson-Newman withdrawing.
Western returns to action in two weeks, hosting for consecutive weeks with the Catamount Classic on Saturday, Sept. 15 in Cullowhee.
WCU Women's Individual Results:
1 Kerrie Savery 12:14.5
2 Lindsay Groce 12:19.1
3 Jordan Gaddy 12:20.1
4 Skye Aiello 12:28.4
7 Leigh Nicholson 12:37.6
16 Annie Bailey 13:51.0
27 Taylor Zimmerman 15:22.4
WCU Men's Individual Results:
12 Stephen Hammond 21:30.5
19 Jesse Ramirez 21:53.9
20 Todd Davidson 21:58.0
21 Josh Walker 22:02.2
24 Stephon Roach 22:12.2
26 Jake Clawson 22:21.6
31 Field Miller 22:51.8
37 Aaron Grant 23:48.0
42 Drew Tucker 24:36.2
47 Jestin Jennings 26:35.2
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. ? The Davidson men's and women's cross country teams began their 2007 season by running in the Wake Forest Relays on Friday afternoon. The Wildcat women finished third among the four collegiate teams that ran in the relays.
Each school divided athletes into teams of two. Each runner ran two legs of 3.5k (for men) or 2.5k (for women) in tag-team fashion, for a total team distance of 14k/10k. The total time for each runner is the sum of both splits.
For the men's squad, the team of Sam Morris and Josh Parkey had the top-time for Davidson with an 15th place finish (48.03), just ahead of the Wildcat team of Greg Marcil and Charlie Schmitt, which finished 18th out of 22 teams. Individually, Morris also registered the top time, clocking in at 23:29. It placed him 13th overall out of 45 runners.
On the women's side, Caroline Sanker led the charge as she teamed up with Lauren Childs for a fifth-place finish with a time of 37:10. Sanker also recorded the top Wildcat time at 17:41, which placed her 5th individuallyout of 51 runners. Davidson also placed individual runners in the 18-20 spots with Annie O'Donnell, Sarah Cline and Lauren Childs registering those times.
Both squads take a week off before getting back out on the trails when they head to the Asics Winthrop Invitational on Sept. 15.
Team Results Men:
15th- Sam Morris (23:29) / Josh Parkey (24:34) = 48:03
18th- Greg Marcil (25:14) / Charlie Schmitt (25:23) = 50:37
Team Results Women:
5th- Caroline Sanker (17:41) / Lauren Childs (19:29) = 37:10
11th- Annie O'Donnell (19:16) / Megal Atias (19:52) = 39:08
13th- Sarah Cline (19:27) / Kim Lang (20:27) = 39:54
22nd- Allison Ruhe (21:31) / Sarah Frederick (20:47) = 42:18
24th- Lisa Klein (21:00) / Stephanie Scott (22:21) = 43:21
25th- Em Rivard (23:07) / Em Mesimer (23:18) = 46:25
CofC Women's Cross Country Places 2nd at USC Gamecock Invitational
Columbia, S.C. -- The College of Charleston women's cross country team opened the 2007 season with a second place finish at the University of South Carolina Gamecock Cross Country 5K Invitational on Friday. Charleston men's squad did not compete in the team competition. Charleston's women tallied 60 points and finished second to Charlotte's 35-point total. South Carolina placed third with 83 points, while Clemson had 105 points in fourth place.
Becky Stewart was the top women's performer for the Cougars placing sixth with a time of 18:31.35. Amy Laughlin (18:57.57) finished 11th, while Karen Carson (19:00.16) and Wells Trompeter (19:16.13) placed 12th and 17th, respectively.
The men's squad had four individual performers compete with Brad Meyer finishing eighth with a time of 16:12.45. Trevor Sprague placed 12th with a time of 16:35.13.
Cross Country Competes in First Meet of Season
ELON, N.C. ? The Elon men’s and women’s cross country squads each finished fourth out of four teams at the opening meet of the season at the Wake Forest Relays.
The women were led by Anna Mae Flynn (12th- 18:30.0) and Caitlin Beeler (t-13th ? 18:35.0). The Phoenix placed five runners in the top 25 as Emily Fournier (17th ? 19:11.0), Katelyn Ealer (21st ? 19:32.0) and Katy Burns (23rd ? 19:49.0) all followed behind Flynn and Beeler. The women’s squad (27 points) narrowly missed a third place finish, placing one point behind SoCon foe Davidson (26 points). Wake Forest took home the win, scoring just 12 points and clinching five of the top ten spots.
The Elon men saw a top-20 finish from Rick Myers (18th ? 23:41.0) as they tallied 33 points in en route to a fourth-place finish. The Demon Deacons captured the first-place trophy with a time of 22:06.0 from Marcus Dillon
Cross Country Finishes 10th in Gamecock Invitational
Statesboro, Ga. ? The Georgia Southern cross country team finished in 10th place on Friday evening at the Gamecock Invitational. In all, six Eagle runners completed the 5K course for a total score of 262.
The Eagles came in 10th place in a highly competitive field of 18 made up of Division I and II institutions. In all there were 116 individuals that participated in the race. UNC Charlotte finished in first place with a total of 35 points and an average time of 18:30.91.
“It’s good to have this one under our belt,” said coach Natalie Smith.” “If we continue to get better we’ll be alright as the season progresses.”
Senior Abby Bloom (Snellville, Ga.) paced the Eagles finishing in 36th place with a time of 20:00.58. Junior Shauntel Jennings (Stone Mountain, Ga.) who comes to the cross country program from the track & field program was the second Eagle to cross the finish line in 50th place with a time of 20:58.80. At 21:34.86 was freshman Kassi Lee (Elberton, Ga.) who finished in 60th place.
Also running for Georgia Southern was a trio of sophomores Laura Fuller (Cartersville, Ga.), Kellie Wesson (Douglasville, Ga.) and Katie Abercrombie (Newnan, Ga.). Fuller and Wesson finished back to back with times of 21:40.59 and 22:08.57. Abercrombie finished not far behind with a time of 23:12.09. “Overall, I am satisfied with our performance,” said Smith. “We had some new runners that ran strong, which will help us as we get more into the season.”
UNCG cross country teams open season at Campbell Invitational
BUIES CREEK, NC ? The UNC Greensboro men’s and women’s cross country teams opened the 2007 season at the Campbell Invitational on Saturday.
The men were led by newcomer Andy Clyne who finished in second place with a time of 15:57 while freshman Michelle Chewen was the top finisher for the women placing fourth with a time of 15:47.
On the men’s side, the Spartans tallied three Top-10 finishes and were led by Clyne’s second place finish. Xavier Rutz took seventh place with a time of 16:21, while Anthony Savoia finished ninth with a time of 16:25.
The women also had a good meet with four runners finishing in the Top-25. Sophomore Sherrika Jordan finished 13th with a time of 16:30 while classmates Courtney Fawcett and Mary Ann Rutz placed 19th and 20th with times of 16:51 and 17:05, respectively.
Scoring was done in a dual meet format. On the men’s side the Spartans fell to host Campbell but defeated Longwood and UNC Wilmington. The women were defeated by Campbell, UC Wilmington and Longwood.
Cross Country Women Capture Fifth Place at Covered Bridge Open
August 31, 2007 - BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian state women's cross country placed fifth at the Covered Bridge Open. The meet was a season opener for both the men and women squads and was run on Don Kennedy Trails at State Farm Fields.
The women's race was won by Georgia, while Appalachian State was in the middle of the pack finishing fifth. The women were carried by junior Hannah Parks who finished with a time of 19:48.27, and placed 34th. Teammate Kala Robertson crossed the finish line right behind Parks, with senior Anna Baker finishing close by. Numerous freshman competed in the meet, as well as juniors Ashley Norris and Emily Pomfrey who finished 43rd and 53rd respectively.
Cross Country Men Finish Second at Covered Bridge Open
August 31, 2007 - BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State’s men’s cross country grabbed a second place finish at the Covered Bridge Open. The meet was a season opener was run on Don Kennedy Trails at State Farm Fields.
Florida State took home the team title, while Appalachian State snatched the runner up position. The overall meet was won by Lance Parker, a former ASU standout in both cross country and track and field. Parker, who resides in Blowing Rock, is training for the Olympic Trials.
Leading the way for the Mountaineers was senior Mark Maddox who finished seventh and posted a time of 25: 43. Right on Maddox’s heals was teammate Brian Deal, who took home eighth place. Other Mountaineers finishing in the top 20 were junior Desta Asmeron and sophomore Josh Houser.