ETSU Women Place First, Men Second, at Catamount Classic
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The ETSU cross country program turned in another impressive performance with a pair of top-two team finishes with the women taking the top spot while the men took runner up in their respective races at the Catamount Classic on the Western Carolina University campus.
In races each featuring a field of competition of 10 teams, the Bucs built on some of the already-established momentum and continued in their preparations for the SoCon Championships in two weeks.
The ETSU women continued the energy from their last race a few weeks ago with another race title on Friday at WCU. Junior Katie Hirko continued her stellar season by pacing the competition with an 18:21.96 time in the 5K. Hirko was trailed closely in the standings by freshman Macy Carrier who placed runner-up with a season-best 18:49.81 time. Sophomore Victoria Hutchens was also able to finish among the top-10 with a ninth-place standing of 19:21.82.
The Bucs managed to place two additional runners in the top-20 overall with Lisa Pallotta racing to a 15th-place finish with a 19:47.79 time, while freshman Sarah Zimmer placed 20th with a time of 20:15.50. ETSU’s contingent was rounded out with fellow frosh Brianna Goble finishing 48th – out of 67 runners – with a 22:22.65 time.
These times equated out to a 19:19.37 average team time for the Blue & Gold which allowed it to finish first overall with a 44 point total -- ahead of runner-up Charlotte who had a score of 45.
Dealing with a few injuries, the Buccaneer men fought through the adversity to finish second – only one point behind winner Virginia Military Institute. Like the women, the men occupied the top-two individual placements in their race led by sophomore Simeon Roberts in first with a 25:39.64 time while Sean Duffy trailed in runner-up with a time of 25:46.66 in the 8K. James Miller also joined his teammates among the top-10 in seventh with a 26:35.03 time.
The Bucs also managed to place two additional runners in the top-15 overall with freshman Haydn Borghetti-Metz placing 13th with a time of 27:12.86, while Chase Mussard raced to a 15th-place finish with 27:15.98 time. Sneaking into the top-20, transfer Matthew Joyner placed 19th overall with a 27:25.02 time.
Completing the group of Buccaneer runners, Thomas Miller raced to a 54th – out of 74 runners – overall finish with a time of 30:19.27.
In total, the Bucs averaged out to a 26:30.03 team time. A score of 38 placed ETSU behind race winner VMI – who had a point total of 37 – but ahead of Charlotte in third with a score of 58.
The cross country program will have two weeks of preparation before competing in the Southern Conference Championship on Friday, Oct. 31, in Kernersville, N.C.
Keydets Win Second Straight Meet, Take WCU Classic
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The VMI men’s cross country team used its depth to capture its second consecutive event title, as the Keydets edged East Tennessee State by one point to win Friday’s WCU Catamount Classic, hosted by Western Carolina in Cullowhee, N.C. It was VMI’s second straight one-point event title, following Oct. 4’s victory at George Mason, and marked the first time the Keydets had won two straight team meet titles since Sept. 10 – Oct. 8, 2011, when they won at Washington & Lee and Furman.
ETSU saw one of its runners drop out midway through the race, and the Keydets took advantage late. VMI placed five runners in the top-12, but it was a late surge by an ailing Avery Martin to gain several positions down the stretch that gave the Keydets the points they needed for the team title.
Daniel DeNijs led the way for VMI, finishing third on the 8K course in 25:49. Patrick Spahn and Brandon White finished back to back, placing fifth in 26:31 and sixth in 26:32 respectively, while Sean Helmke was 11th in 26:59. Martin placed 12th in 27:09, and did so with both himself and Helmke battling stomach issues throughout the day. Meanwhile, Tyler Richards (27:16/16th) and Zach Chase (27:26/20th) rounded out VMI’s top seven.
VMI’s one-point margin over ETSU, 37-38, was followed by third-place Charlotte’s 58 markers. Western Carolina was fourth (112), while Wofford (139), UNC Asheville (151), Columbia International (228), Warren Wilson (242) and Montreat (247) completed the final standings.
Friday’s other finishers for VMI were Micah Ellington (28:00/26th) and Luke Phillips (28:11/28th). In addition, the Keydets won the event without one of their top runners, senior Hartnel Paultre, who did not compete.
Hannah Dickinson finished in the top-20, leading the VMI women’s cross country team at Friday’s WCU Catamount Classic, hosted by Western Carolina in Cullowhee, N.C.
Dickinson finished the event 19th overall, crossing the line in 20:10, with Bethany King close behind in 21st. King clocked in at 20:16 over the 5K course. Michelle Church was VMI’s #3 runner, timing in at 20:28 to finish 24th, while Mia Castelveter was 27th in 20:32. Kelly Russell rounded out the Keydets’ top five, finishing 43rd in 21:27.
In the team standings, the Keydets finished fifth with 124 points, 22 points behind the host school and nine points ahead of sixth-place Wofford. Non-Division I schools Columbia International and Warren Wilson rounded out the standings, while East Tennessee State edged Charlotte by a single point to win the meet and UNC Asheville placed third.
Other VMI finishers were Kennedy Flynn (46th/22:08) and Christina Hill (50th/22:45).
VMI cross country returns to action October 31 at the Southern Conference Championship, hosted by UNCG in Kernersville, N.C.
WCU Men and Women Finish Fourth at Catamount Classic
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - For the second time this season, the Western Carolina men's and women's cross country teams competed at home. Both teams finished fourth in the respective races at the Catamount Classic. The men finished ahead of Wofford, UNC Asheville and three non-Division I programs while the men topped VMI, Wofford and two non-Division I programs.
VMI, ETSU and Charlotte took the top three slots on the men's side while ETSU, Charlotte and UNC Asheville topped the women's standings.
For just the second time this season, redshirt sophomore Clay Howarth led the Catamounts with an eighth place in the 74-person field. Howarth completed the 8k course in 26:39.12. Finishing six spots back was senior Travis Alfaro who placed 14th overall with a time of 27:13.70.
On the women's side it was senior Aleshia Reese leading the way as she finished 10th in the 67-person field. Reese completed the 5k course in 19:26.86. Following close behind in 14th was fellow senior Michelle Provost who crossed the line in 19:46.75.
The final three scorers for the men finished with five spots of each other. Freshman Crisman Jones placed 30th overall with a time of 28:19.97 while juniors Jamie Bigby and Cooper Wurst finished 32nd and 34th, respectively. Bigby completed the course in 28:311.20 while Wurst crossed the line in 28:40.23.
The final three women's scorers also finished in a bunch. Redshirt freshman Laney Browder came across the line in 26th with a time of 20:29.12. Two spots back was junior Kaitlyn Shetler who posted a time of 20:38.08 and right behind her in 29th was freshman Ashley Taylor who finished the course with a time of 20:45.74.
Three other men raced for the Catamounts on the day including sophomore Tommy Connell (35th, 28:40.54), redshirt junior Michael Cornwell (45th, 29:19.22) and redshirt sophomore Kaleel Barton (57th, 30:43.16).
The women had five additional runners compete including redshirt freshman Katarina Ruehl (34th, 20:55.33), senior Lena Elliott (39th, 21:16.41), junior Michaela Williams (40th, 21:20.87), freshman Madison Goode (42nd, 21:23.93) and freshman Samantha Cook (49th, 22:26.89).
The Catamounts will now prepare for the 2014 Southern Conference Championship which will take place Friday, Oct. 31 at UNCG.
Furman Men's Cross Country B Squad Finishes 3rd At Blue Ridge Open
BOONE, N.C. -- The Furman men’s cross country B squad finished third Friday at the Blue Ridge Open in Boone, N.C. The Paladins scored 75 points, while High Point won the meet with 29 points, and Wake Forest finished second with 51 points.
Senior William Ivey paced the Paladins, finishing fifth with a time of 20:19.88, while sophomore Brock Baker placed tenth after crossing the line in 20:45.34. Sophomore Lee Shearer posted a time of 20:50.48 for 15th, and fellow sophomore Matt Lange was 26th at 21:03.87. Sophomore Nate Riech placed 32nd with a time of 21:15.28, and senior rounded out the Paladin slate in 64th place with a time of 22:33.62.
Other members of the Furman men’s team and the Paladin women’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 Oct. 31 in Greensboro, N.C.
Bulldogs Complete Action at College of Charleston Invitational
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Michael Lantz posted a career-best 8k time of 25:50 to finish in seventh place and lead the Bulldogs at the College of Charleston Invitational on Friday at Trophy Lake Park in Charleston, S.C.
Raeven Lantz clocked in just one second behind Michael to finish in eighth place and record his career-best mark of 25:51 while Justice Sanders and Darrell Hayden both earned their personal-best times and crossed the finish line in 27:26 to place 32nd and 33rd.
Jamie Cunningham topped his previous career-best time clocking in at 27:35 to place 43rd and close out the top-five finishers for the Bulldogs.
Jake Howlin and William Sloane also earned personal-best times of 27:45 and 28:05 in Friday's race where the men's team finished in fifth place overall.
On the women's side, Jackie Thompson continues to lead the pack and posted a career-best 5k time of 18:54 to finish in 11th place.
Callian Colquitt beat her previous personal-best time and crossed the finish line in 19:25 to earn 23rd place while Jess DeWitte recorded a career-best mark of 19:30 to place 30th.
Emani Little clocked in under the 20-minute mark to post a personal-best time of 19:49 and place 36th while Nicole Ogilbee closed out the top-five for the Bulldogs with a career-best time of 20 minutes flat and finished in 42nd place.
The women's team finished in fourth place overall.
The Bulldogs are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 31 at the Southern Conference Championship in Greensboro, N.C.
Samford Cross Country Places 13th and 15th In Crimson Classic
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Samford Univeristy men's and women's cross country teams trekked over to The University of Alabama to compete in the Crimson Classic on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Harry Pritchett Course.
Freshman Arse'ne Guillorel ran a 25:32.42 in the men's 8,000 meter race to pace SU in the meet. Adam Jones wasn't far behind as he followed up with a 25:55.08 to help the Bulldogs to a 13th place finish. Samford tallied a total time of 2:12:56.01 for an average time of 26:35.21.
Karisa Nelson ran an 18:26.92 in the 5,000 meters to pace the women's squad as the team took a 15th place finish in the meet with an average time of 19:02.77 and a total time of 1:35:13.85 which was good for 401 total points.
Rachel Wooten posted Samford's next best time with an 18:46.70.
The cross country team's next event will be the Southern Conference Championships which will be held in Greensboro, N.C. on Oct. 31.