Davidson Men, Women Win Eye Opener Invitational

Spartanburg, S.C. - The Davidson men’s cross country team placed five runners in the Top 10 to successfully defend its title at the USC Upstate Eye Opener Invitational Friday at Milliken Research Park.

Led by junior Andrew Lantz, who placed second in 25:56.65, senior Wes Reynolds followed in 26:27.90 to place fourth and classmate Vincent Weir was sixth in 26:43.46.  Sophomore Sal Del Giudice trailed Weir in seventh (26:59.90), while freshman Ryan Phillips placed 10th in 27:10.42 to give the ‘Cats a team score of just 29 points.

Gilbert Kemboi of USC Upstate won the race in 25:31.48 to lead the host Spartans to a second-place finish with 42 points.

Freshman Daniel Samet (27:28.49) and junior Grayam Sailor-Tynes (27:38.46) placed 14th and 18th, respectively, for Davidson to pad the ‘Cats margin of victory.

Southern Conference foes Furman and Wofford also competed in the 25-team meet, placing fifth (112 points) and 17th (436), respectively.

Davidson returns to action in two weeks, traveling to Blacksburg, Va. for the Virginia Tech Invitational Friday, Sept. 14.

The Davidson women’s cross country team started the 2012 season off with a bang, taking first place at the Eye Opener Meet, hosted by USC Upstate at Milliken Research Park on Friday evening.

Sophomore Presley Parkes was the top finisher for the ‘Cats, taking second place overall with a time of 19:06.76.  Freshman Grace Carr was a close third, crossing the line in 19:08.25.

Brigid Behrens and Erin Osment took sixth and seventh place, respectively.  Behrens ran a 19:28.45 in her Davidson debut, while Osment finished in 19:33.19.    Natalie Atabek ran a 19:49.64 for 12th place overall.

Also competing for the Wildcats were Olivia Menden and Manya Swick.  Menden crossed the line in a time of 19:56.15 for a 13th place finish.  Swick grabbed 15th place, running a 20:21.31.

The ‘Cats, who totaled 30 points at the meet, finished ahead of fellow SoCon members Furman and Wofford.  Furman was second with 33 points, while Wofford took third with 106.  Davidson’s average time was 19:25.25.

The Wildcats will head to Rock Hill, S.C., on Sept. 15 for the 25th Asics Winthrop Invitational.

College of Charleston Men Take First, Women Second at Gamecock Invitational

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The College of Charleston got the 2012 season started on a high note as the men led by sophomore Mackenzie Johnston's second-place finish captured the team title at the Gamecock Invitational Friday. The women, led by sophomore Hayley McMahon's fourth-place finish came in second in the team standings.

The men's team placed all six of their runners in the top 12 and their five scoring runners in the top eight. The women had all six of their runners in the top 24.

Johnston finished second overall and first in the D1 results as he ran the 5K race in 16:00.50. The only runner that beat him was Pardon Ndhlovu, who ran the race in 15:17.60. Johnston beat the third-place finish by five seconds.

McMahon ran 18:51.10 in the women's 5K race as she edged out the fifth-place runner by just over a second. Freshman Emily Sanders ran a solid race as she finished sixth in 18:54.50.

On the men's side sophomore Adam Seften finished third in 16:14.40 and senior Manning Miller finished fourth in 16:34.30.

The Cougars continue their season next weekend as they host the College of Charleston Invitational Sept. 7 at Trophy Lakes on Johns Island.

Elon Women’s Cross Country Wins Demon Deacon Quad, Men Third

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Elon women’s cross country team started off its 2012 season in strong fashion today, August 31, by winning the Demon Deacon Quad, while the men’s team took third in the relay-style meet.

The Elon women earned six points to finish ahead of High Point (19 points), Wake Forest (21 points) and UNCG (32 points). On the men’s side, High Point won with eight points, followed by Wake Forest (14 points), Elon (23 points) and UNCG (33 points).

Runners competed in the event as a two-person team and each runner ran 2500m before passing off to his/her partner. The men’s teams ran the loop three times as each runner completed a total of 7500m. The women passed off twice to her partner to run finish a 5K individually.

The Elon pairing of Elyse Bierut and Allyson Oram won the meet with a time of 37:28. Emily Tryon and Haylee Dawe finished in 37:59 in second for the Phoenix, followed by the newcomer duo of Tereza Novotna and Kaitlin Snapp in third with a time of 38:11.

In sixth was Christine Pacewicz and Erin Macbeth with a time of 39:04, while Emily Dunne and Ellie Taff posted a 41:40 to finish 10th. Brennan McDavid and Kaitlin Stober took 13th with a 42:19 and Kylie Womack and Jenny Gallagher earned 16th with a time of 44:13.

Luis Vargas and Ari Rothschild carried the maroon and gold with a time of 49:34 to finish seventh. In 11th were Adam Bernstein and Sean Martyn, who posted a time of 50:31. Reed Payne and Ranley Gousse took 14th with a 51:20, while Ryan Gwaltney and Lucas Walters finished in 54:00. James Stevenson and Connor Mercurio completed the meet for Elon with a time of 55:04.

Elon will be back in action in two weeks in the fourth annual Elon Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 15. The meet will take place on Elon’s cross country course with the women’s race beginning at 9 a.m. and the men at 9:45 a.m.

Furman Women Finish Second at Eye Opener, Men Fifth

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- The Furman cross country teams opened the 2012 season Friday night at the Eye Opener Meet in Spartanburg, S.C.  The Paladins finished second in the women’s meet with a score of 33 points, just three points shy of Davidson’s winning mark.  The Furman men’s team scored 112 points for a fifth place finish, while the Wildcats also wrapped up first place in the men’s meet, scoring 29 points.  

Paladin freshman Sinead Haughey won the women’s 5K race, turning in a time of 18:42.16.  Furman placed four additional runners in the top-10, as junior Kacie Shoen notched a fifth-place finish at 19:24.97, and sophomores Blair Burke and Emily Zizzi  recorded back-to-back finishes in eighth (19:34.98) and ninth (19:38.90) place, respectively.  Senior Hannah Robinson rounded out the top 10 with a time of 19:38.90.

Junior Catherine Burton posted a time of 20:15.61 for 18th place, while sophomore Hannah Schilpp finished 23rd after completing the course in 20:36.26.  Senior Emily Peeler placed 48th with a time of 21:16.33.

Senior Wilkerson Given led the Furman men’s team, capturing third place with a time of 25:57.46 on the 8K course, followed by junior Jack Klecker in 12th place at 27:18.01.  Sophomore Jack Morgan finished 21st after posting a time of 27:51.05, while freshman Bradley Gossett took 35th place with a time of 28:30.94.  Sophomore William Ivey rounded out the Paladin scorers, placing 41st with a time of 28:37.25.

Rookie Jack Miller posted a time of 28:49.27 for 47th place, and junior Tyler Greathouse placed 28th with a time of 29:16.78.  Junior Jackson Sinor was 71st after recording a time of 29:24.15, while sophomore Devin Tupper finished 95th (30:18.41).  Sophomore Mitchell Lloyd placed 113th, completing the course in 31:03.95.

Furman will compete at the Mountaineer Open in Boone, N.C., on September 14.Citadel men second, women third at Gamecock Invitational.

The Citadel Men Take Seconed, Women Third at Gamecock Invitational

Columbia, S.C. – The Citadel men's and women's cross country team's opened the season with second and third place finishes, respectively, at the Gamecock Invitational in Columbia, S.C., on Friday evening. Both teams ran the 5k course at Hilton Field in Fort Jackson.

The men's team placed five of their runners in the top 10 including a second place finish by Austin Waldrop who recorded a time of 16:05. Following behind Waldrop was Atom Young (5th place, 16:50), Raeven Lantz ( 6th place, 16:56), Jordan Ashley (9th place, 17:08) and William Epps (10th place, 17:12).

The men took second place out of three teams, running an average 5k time of 16:50.

Bo Hutchinson (13th place, 17:27), John Gatewood (14th place, 17:34), Brandon Rabon (15th place, 17:54), Christian Sevidal (17th place, 18:00) and William Sloane (20th place, 18:20) also competed for the men. Senior captain Kyle Keene did not compete.

Danielle McKee led the Bulldogs with a time of 19:23 to take 13th place. Two of the top-5 Bulldog women were first time runners Jackie Thompson (17th place, 19:38) and Jessica Dewitte (32nd place, 21:21). Christina Shonbeck took 30th place with a time of 21:16, while lone senior Micah Wessinger rounded out the top-5 with a 36th place finish and a time of 21:39.

The women took third place out of five teams, topping Southern Conference foe Georgia Southern running an average 5k time of 20:39.

Caillian Colquitt (38th place, 21:47), Emily Fields (40th place, 22:07), Nicole Ogilbee (41st place, 22:08) and Kristen Kessinger (43rd place, 22:57) also competed on the women's side.

The Bulldogs will compete at the College of Charleston Invitational at Trophy Lakes on Johns Island, S.C., next Friday, Sept. 7.

Western Carolina Men Place Second, Women Fourth in WCU Invitational

CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Behind a personal best in the men’s 5K, senior Josey Weaver led the Catamount’s men’s cross country team to a second place finish in the Western Carolina University Invitational on the Cullowhee campus Friday evening. The women’s team placed fourth out of eight teams. Florida won both the men’s and women’s events.

Weaver paced the Catamounts with his record of 15:21.6 besting his previous time of 15:54.37 when he won the 2009 WCU Invitational. Over his career, Weaver has finished no worse than fifth place in the event.

Florida’s Josh Izewski topped all runners with his time of 15:14.1, averaging 4:54.2 per mile. The Gators took four out of the top five spots. The Catamounts put three into the top ten.

Following Weaver, junior Chase Fisher (sixth, 15:37.4) and sophomore Travis Alfaro (seventh, 15:45.0) ran personal bests with senior Nolan Clark (16:01.1) finishing just outside of the top 10 in thirteenth.

Garrett West (16:32.4), Perry Cabean (16:48.7) and Michael Cornwell (17:00.4) all finished in the top 40.

On the women’s side, senior Mara Smith was the lone Catamount in the top 10 as she placed tenth with her personal best time of 11:51.3. Sophomores Jocelyn Keen (12th, 11:55.6) and Aleshia Reese (15th, 12:07.3) ran impressive top 20, personal bests.

Kaylan Lance ran a 12:35.2 to place 27th as four additional Catamounts placed in the top 40 including Kaitlyn Shetler (34th, 12:52.6), Katana Lemelin (35th, 12:59.4), Lena Elliott (13:01.4) and Hayley Tomlinson (13:02.5).

The men’s and women’s cross country teams will be back in action as the Catamounts travel to Rock Hill, S.C. for the Winthrop Invitational on Sat., Sept. 15. Results can be found at CatamountSports.com.

Appalachian State Men and Women Finish Second at Covered Bridge Open

BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University women’s cross country team started off its 2012 season strong with a second place finish at the Covered Bridge Open Friday night. The Mountaineers finished just behind #4 Florida State.

Senior Amanda Hamilton led the way for App State, running an 18:28.5 and a third place overall finish, while junior Allison Cook crossed the line eighth overall, finishing in 18:48.4. Redshirt sophomore Justine Stocks rounded out the top three for the Apps’ finishing ninth overall, with an18:50.3.

Florida State captured the meet with 38 points, while Appalachian finished second with 46 and UNC Chapel Hill tabbed a third place finish with 49 points. 

The Black and Gold return to action on Friday, Sept. 14 when they run in the Mountaineer Open. The meet is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.

Appalachian State University men’s cross country team tabbed a second place finish in its first meet of the 2012 season. The Mountaineers finished just behind #10 Florida State.

Freshman Mitch McLeod picked up a third place overall finish, leading App State with a 25:16.2, while senior Alex Taylor had a seventh place overall finish with a 25:32.1 and senior Michael Lilley finished 10th overall, and third for Appalachian, running a 25:36.1.

The Seminoles took home the first place finish with 35 points, while the Black and Gold were only six behind with 41. UNC-Chapel Hill finished third with 75 total points.

The Apps will be back in action on Friday, Sept. 14 when they compete in the Mountaineer Open. The meet is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.

Georgia Southern Take Fourth at Gamecock Invitational (Women)

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Sara Curry came in fifth to lead the Georgia Southern women's cross country team to a fourth-place finish at the Gamecock Invitational Friday night.

Curry ran the 5K course in a time of 18:52.70, and Lindsay Mullican placed 31st with a time of 21:19.50. Jami Joyner was 39th and finished with a time of 22:02.10.

Alex Langmo was 42nd with a time of 22:43.80, while Asea Mayfield (23:08.50), Kristiana Towns (23:59.50) and Amanda Ventre (24:28.70) placed 44th, 45th and 46th, respectively.  

The Eagles return to action Sept. 7 at the College of Charleston Invitational.

UNCG Men, Women Finish Fourth at Demon Deacon Quad

Winston-Salem, N.C. - The UNCG cross country programs started off the 2012 season at the relay style meet at Demon Deacon Quad on Friday.

The relay teams for the men were Josh Crawford and Brandon Cain, Tyron Alston and Eric Williams, and Dylan Belles and John Elwood. The women pairs were Shannon Hall and Katlyn Ayers, Emilee Hensel and Lydia Saina, and Kelly Montague and Meredith Hicks.

Josh Crawford (Fayetteville, N.C./ South View) and Brandon Cain (Graham, N.C./ Coker College) led the men with a time of 52:13. Duo Shannon Hall (Waldorf, Md./ North Point) and Katyln Ayers (Strasburg, Va./ Strasburg) posted a time of 41.58 to lead the women. As a team, the men scored a total of 33 points and the women finished with 32 points.

Last years top performers did not participate in the opening meet. The Spartans will compete next at the Elon Invitational on September 15.