Furman Takes Crown at Blue Ridge OpenBOONE, N.C. -- Furman took the top three individual spots, as the Paladin women’s cross country team won the Blue Ridge Open Friday afternoon in Boone, N.C. The Paladins scored 45 points for the win, defeating host Appalachian State, who took second place with a score of 64 points. Coastal Carolina placed third (136 points), followed by UNC Asheville (191 points), and East Tennessee State (197 points).
Freshman Allie Buchalski led all individuals in the 5K race, turning in a time of 17:39.37, while junior Sinead Haughey placed second with a time of 17:42.83, and freshman Grace Tinkey finished third after recording a time of 17:44.96.
Freshman Julia Rodriguez was 22nd with a time of 18:51.99, followed by freshman Laura Miller, who rounded out the Paladin scorers in 23rd place with a time of 18:55.99. Fellow rookie Ann Sisson claimed 38th place at 19:10.67, and senior Kacie Schoen finished 42nd with a time of 19:14.63.
Senior Catherine Burton placed 74th (19:41.03), and rookie Maddie Wolfe finished 113th (20:14.36). Freshman Georgia Compton turned in a time of 20:58.46 for 152nd place, and rookie Anna McBride was 209th with a time of 24:19.70.
Only three members of the Furman men’s team competed at the Boone event. Junior William Ivey led the Paladin men, placing 73rd with a time of 26:03.33 on the 8K course. Senior Tyler Greathouse captured 86th place with a time of 26:19.66, while Shawn Walker finished 109th with a time of 26:43.75.
Other members of the Furman men’s team will compete at the NCAA Pre-Nationals in Terre Haute, Ind., tomorrow. Following an off weekend next weekend, the Paladins will compete at the Southern Conference Championships on Nov. 2 in Birmingham, Ala.
The Citadel Men, Women Post Wins at Chucktown Throwdown
Charleston, S.C. – The Citadel men's and women's cross country teams both posted victories in the Chucktown Throwdown dual meet against Charleston Southern Friday afternoon at James Island County Park in Charleston, S.C.
The Bulldog men's team had four of the five top finishers in the 8k race. Freshman Ross Jordan led the team and earned first place overall with a time of 28:12. Freshman Grant Smith followed close behind, finishing second overall with a mark of 29:04. Sophomore William Sloane (4th, 29:19), freshman Matthew Gill (5th, 29:41) and sophomore William Epps (7th, 29:51) closed out The Citadel's top five.
On the women's side, Danielle McKee led the Bulldogs and placed first overall with a mark of 19:09 followed by freshman Emani Little who earned third overall, crossing the finish line at 19:46. Sophomore Jackie Thompson (4th, 19:58), freshman Ashley Beach (7th, 20:17) and sophomore Jessica Dewitte (10th, 21:13) rounded out the top five for the Bulldogs.
"The kids did a great job, it was a very good meet," said head coach Jody Huddleston. "We have two weeks to prepare for the conference (meet), and we are excited to have our No. 2 runner, Jackie Thompson, back in action."
The Bulldogs compete in the Southern Conference championships on Nov. 2 in Birmingham, Ala.
Appalachian State Finishes Second at Blue Ridge Open
BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University women's cross country secured a second-place finish in the 5,000m event at the Blue Ridge Open in Boone on Friday.
Justine Stocks finished first for the Mountaineers as she crossed the finish line tenth overall with a time of 18:29.16. Meaghan McCauley recorded her first second-place finish for the Mountaineers this season, finishing 11th overall with a time of 18:35.29.
Brittany Williams was not far behind, finishing third for the Apps with a time of 18:36.80 and 12th overall.
Dana Cox found a 16th overall finish with a time of 18:42.01, while Katie Cagle finished 17th overall, recording a time of 18:46.76.
Furman, ranked ninth in the Southeast region, took the title in the meet, finishing with 45 total points. App State took second on the afternoon with 64 points and Coastal Carolina followed in third-place with 136 points.
The Mountaineers also captured the title of Queen of the Mountain in the 18th annual dual with Western Carolina. The Mountaineers have now earned the jug 16-of-18 times.
Appalachian State will return to action at the Southern Conference Championships in Birmingham, Ala. on Nov. 2.
Samford Competes at Crimson Classic
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – With two weeks until the conference championships, Samford competed in its last tune-up meet Friday night at the Crimson Classic, hosted by the University of Alabama. Samford’s men placed eighth in the 8k while the women placed 16th in the 5k.
For the second-straight meet, sophomore Adam Jones was the Bulldogs’ lead runner, finishing 28th in 25:37.44. Luke Weishaar was the next across (31st, 25:41.75), leading a small pack of Bulldogs with Layton Dorsett (37th, 25:45.24) and Brandon Hazouri (38th, 25:47.42) following close behind. Lucas Sieb (55th, 26:08.49) and James Graham (122nd, 27:26.57) rounded out the Bulldogs’ field of six.
Frances Bernard continued her successful season, leading the Bulldogs with a season-best time of 18:27.15, placing 56th. Rachel Wooten crossed the line less than 10 second later (63rd, 18:35.15) with Marie Demedicis finishing near the end of a pack around the 19:00.00 mark, placing 101st in 19:07.46. Ansley Bos (107th, 19:18.45), Chelsea Treadway (116th, 19:27.16) and Anna Laura Irvine (119th, 19:32.84) rounded out the rest of Samford’s competitors.
In two weeks, Samford will serve as the host for the 2013 Southern Conference Cross Country Championships, which takes place on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. The meet will take place at Veterans Park in Hoover, Ala., with the men kicking things off with an 8k race at 10 a.m. followed by the women's 5k at 10:45 a.m.
Western Carolina Runs at Blue Ridge Open
Cullowhee, N.C. – The Western Carolina men’s and women’s cross country teams completed the Blue Ridge Open Friday afternoon.
The men’s team finished in 16th out of 28 teams, while the women took 14th out of 27 teams in the field.
Michelle Provost paced the women’s team with a 32nd place finish after a time of 19:05.73, while Aleshia Reese ran the 5k course in 19:10.54 to finish in 37th. Hayley Tomlinson finished in 80th after a time of 19:45.39, and Mackenzie Jensen ran a 20:18.42 to finish in 116th place. Rachel Johnson was the final Catamount runner’s time to count towards the team score crossed the finish line with a time of 20:59.71 in 154th place. Julia Metscher finished in 165th after running a time of 21:15.81 with Shannon Veilleux closely behind in 172nd after a time of 21:27.06.
On the men’s side, Travis Alfaro led WCU with a 30th place finish after completing the 8k route in 25:25.74. Clay Howarth ran a time of 26:31.36 to finish in 96th, while JC Cornett took 121st after a time of 26:55.18. Tommy Connell finished in 132nd after a time of 27:05.07 with Jamie Bigby -- the final Catamount runner to have his score count -- ten spots behind in 142nd after a time of 27:15.76. Michael Cornwell was seven seconds behind Bigby with a time of 27:22.72 good enough for 148th place with Cooper Wurst five seconds behind after a time of 27:27.04 in 161st place. Perry Cabean was the last Catamount out on the course with a time of 27:38.25 and in 159th place.
WCU will take a weekend off before traveling to the Southern Conference Championship in Birmingham, Ala. on Saturday, November 2 for its next meet.
Wofford Competes at Blue Ridge Open
BOONE, N.C. – The Wofford men’s and women’s cross country teams competed in the Blue Ridge Open hosted by Appalachian State University Friday afternoon. This is the final meet for both teams before the Southern Conference Championship meet.
Leading the way for the women in the 5K gold meet, senior Samantha Hughes finished 14th crossing the finish line with a time of 18:38.76. In addition for the women, senior Alyssa Burkert finished in 41st place with a time of 19:15.13.
Also competing for the Terriers were senior Carly Egan, juniors Alissa Williams and Kiersten Ellsworth, sophomore Marella Angelo, and freshman Meghan Tillman.
For the men in the 8K, sophomore Ryan Doyle led the way with a 90th place finish and a time of 36:25.20. Also competing for the men were sophomore Alex Michaels, juniors Hunter McGahee and Justin Whitaker, and freshman Jonathan Rice.
In addition for the men, freshman Kenneth Atwood finished in 40th place in the 8K open meet.
Georgia Southern Competes at Blue Ridge Open
BOONE, N.C. – The Georgia Southern Cross Country team wrapped up its regular season at the Blue Ridge Open Friday afternoon on the Donnie Kennedy Cross Country trails at Appalachian State Farm Fields.
Five women competed in the 5K race with two Eagles, senior Amanda Ventre and freshman Hope Kimberly posting their best times of the 2013 season at this meet.
The event featured harriers from more than 27 schools in the Blue Ridge Open Gold 5K in which Georgia Southern raced, as well as an open 5K event.
The Eagle Cross Country team does not compete next weekend, but will spend time preparing for the Southern Conference Championships at Veterans’ Park in Hoover, Ala., on November 2nd.
Davidson Runs at Crimson Classic
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Erin Osment was the squad's top finisher as Davidson raced to a 14th-place finish at the competitive Crimson Classic meet, hosted by the University of Alabama at the Harry Pritchett Course in Tuscaloosa Friday evening.
The Wildcats accumulated 392 points and an average time of 18:54.07 at the meet. The host Crimson Tide won the event with 54 points, followed by Mississippi State (80), Tennessee (97) and Auburn (122). Davidson finished ahead of SoCon foe Samford (16th place) as well as LSU, Tulane and Houston.
Osment took 45th place in leading the team at the meet, finishing amongst numerous ACC and SEC runners. She completed the course in 18:17.17. Jenny Fritz was the Wildcats' second-best runner of the evening, taking 65th in a time of 18:35.63.
Sarah Paddon ran a season-best19: 17.73 at the meet, placing 106th overall. Hayden Bates was close behind in 110th with a time o f 19:20.49 and was followed by Manya Swick in 113th place with a mark of 19:26.35.
Olivia Menden crossed the finish line in 19:32.25 for 118th place. Ashlyn Gruber ran a 19:47.31 to finish 128th, while Rachel McKay took 141st in a time of 20:03.48. Hannah Rieden claimed 151st in 20:13.48 and Grace Watt ran the trail in 20:17.01 for a season-best time and 154th place.
Lauren Carterposted a time of 21:10.58 to take 182nd place as Maggie Rickard followed in 186th place with a time of 21:18.41.
The Wildcats will now gear up for the 2013 Southern Conference Cross Country Championships, also to be held in Alabama, Nov. 2.
Elon Competes at Blue Ridge Open
BOONE, N.C. – Senior Ben Perron established a new personal-record as members of the Elon University cross country teams competed on Friday, Oct. 18, at the Blue Ridge Open, hosted by Appalachian State. Perron paced the men's squad with a time of 25:15.55 in the 8K gold race, the fourth-fastest time in school history.
Perron finished 18th overall out of 229 runners as the Phoenix men earned 12th place in the 28th team field. Junior Ari Rothschild was the next Elon runner to cross the line in 61st and a time of 25:56.06, followed by Nick Schneider's time of 26:13.87 in 82nd. James Stevenson (113th, 26:45.91) and Ryan Gwaltney (117th, 26:50.91) rounded out the top five for the maroon and gold.
The Elon women's "B" team finished 13th out of 27 teams in the women's 5K gold race. Jenny Gallagher was the top finisher with a 34th place standing out of 216 runners and a time of 19:08.60. Jackie Madden was the next runner to cross the line for the Phoenix in 56th and a time of 19:23.82 followed by Sabina Bains with a 72nd place standing and a time of 19:45.01. Brenna McDavid had a time 19:48.72 and was 84th while Kaitlin Stober (111th, 20:13.55) andKylie Womack (128th, 20:29.68) rounded out the team score.
Furman took the team title in the women's race with a score of 45, edging out host Appalachian State who finished with 64. The Mountaineers did win the men's crown after finishing with 102 points, beating out Cedarville (118) and George Mason (124).
The Phoenix will race tomorrow at the NCAA Pre-Nationals meet in Terra Haute, Ind., with the men's Luis Vargas and the normal top seven of the women's team scheduled to compete.