VMI Men’s Cross Country Wins GMU Invite
LEESBURG, Va. – Avery Martin led six VMI Keydets in the top nine finishers, propelling the VMI men’s cross country team to a team title at the George Mason Invite Saturday morning in Leesburg, Va. It was VMI’s first meet win as a team since Sept. 15, 2012 when the Keydets won the JMU Open.
Martin, serving as VMI’s top runner for the second time this season, completed the 8K distance in 26:33 to finish third overall. Sean Helmke was fourth in 26:47, while Hartnel Paultre finished sixth in 26:54. Patrick Spahn (26:57/7th), Daniel DeNijs (26:58/8th) and Brandon White (27:00/9th) rounded out VMI’s top six finishers.
In the team standings, the Keydets edged George Mason 28-29 with the two teams sweeping the top 11 spots. George Washington was third with 83 points and UNC Wilmington placed fourth with 102 markers. American rounded out the teams competing and scored 128 points.
VMI’s other finishers included Zach Chase, who was 21st in 27:56, and Philip Harpen, who finished 27th in 28:19. Luke Phillips (28:53/33rd) rounded out the Keydet results.
Hannah Dickinson posted a top-15 finish and Kelly Russell continued her emergence to pace the VMI women’s cross country team at the George Mason Invite, contested Saturday morning in Leesburg, Va.
Dickinson completed the difficult 6K distance, laden with high grass and several hills, in 24:59 to place 15th overall and lead the Keydets for the fourth straight meet this season. Russell, meanwhile, was VMI’s #3 runner and finished 21st in 25:37, more than 90 seconds faster than she had ever completed a collegiate 6K.
The Keydets finished fifth in the team standings, notching 102 points. Host George Mason won the event with 44 markers, seven points ahead of George Washington and 19 up on UNC Wilmington. American finished fourth with 78 points.
VMI’s other finishers included Bethany King, who was the Keydets’ #2 runner in her first 6K. King crossed the stripe in 25:29 to finish 20th. Kennedy Flynn was 24th in 25:45 and Michelle Church was 26th, timing in at 25:59. Mia Castelveter (26:43/32nd) and Christina Hill (28:42/37th) rounded out the VMI finishers.
VMI cross country will return to action October 17, taking part in the WCU Catamount Classic in Cullowhee, N.C. Action gets underway at 3:30 p.m.
Bulldog Cross Country Completes Action at Upstate Invitational
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Jackie Thompson posted a season-best 5k time of 19:24 to finish in 56th place and lead the Bulldogs at the Upstate Invitational on Saturday at the Roger Milliken Center in Spartanburg, S.C.
The Citadel women's team recorded four career-best times in its top five finishers. Jess DeWitte clocked in behind Thompson with a mark of 19:49 to place 74th while Calian Colquitt crossed the finish line in 19:57 to earn 78th place.
Grace Jenkins earned a mark of 20:15 to place 87th while Nicole Ogilbee clocked in just one second behind her at 20:16 to finish 92nd.
The Lantz duo led the Bulldog men for the fourth time this season with Raeven Lantz clocking in at 26:30 in the 8k to finish in 44th while Michael posted a time of 26:56 to place 60th.
Jamie Cunningham topped his previous career-best time, crossing the finish line in 27:56 to place 99th, while Darrell Hayden earned a career-best mark of 28:17 and finished in 106th place. Justice Sanders rounded out the top five for the Bulldogs with a mark of 28:25 to place 110th.
William Sloane also earned a career-best time of 28:29 while Grant Smith posted his season-best time of 28:31 in Saturday's race.
The Bulldogs are back in action on Saturday, Oct. 17 at the College of Charleston Invitational in Johns Island for their final tune-up before the Southern Conference Championship.
Mocs Women Post PR Times at Louisville Classic
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Despite strong winds and temperatures plunging into the low 40s Saturday morning, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s cross country team, without junior All-American Teghan Henderson ran a strong race to finish 23rd in the women’s Gold Division Saturday morning at the Greater Louisville Classic while the men, also short its three top runners, placed 37th in the men’s Blue Division.
Junior Rebecca Greenwall led the Mocs with a time of 18:15.57, placing 81st in the scoring while senior Amanda Cotter was just four seconds being, placing 92nd with a time of 18:19.89.
Sophomore Jessica York was the third UTC runner across the line with a time of 18:40.51, freshman Emily Drouin ran the 5K course in a time of 18:48.85 and senior Keeley Stewart was the fifth scoring runner to finish for the Mocs with a time of 18:49.92.
On the men’s side, senior John Gilpin continued to lead the Mocs placing 63rd overall with a time of 25:50.60 over the 8K course. Junior Trevor Janssen was second for UTC placing 89th with a time of 26:04.48.
More problems arose for the Mocs when one of UTC’s top runners in the field had to stop due to an asthma attack during the run. Senior Patrick O’Brien finished 265th with a time of 28:28.68, far below his best, after stopping along the course and using his inhaler.
He placed behind junior Matthew Marshall who ran the course in a time of 27:22.00 with junior Marquis Carter rounding out the scoring for UTC with a time of 30:26.59.
Alfaro and Reese Lead Catamounts at Upstate Invitational
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Seniors Travis Alfaro and Aleshia Reese led the Western Carolina men's and women's cross country teams at Saturday's Upstate Invitational hosted by USC Upstate. The men finished fifth in the 15-team field while the women came in seventh out of 17 teams.
The men finished ahead of College of Charleston, Winthrop, USC Upstate, UNC Asheville, The Citadel, Wofford, Charleston Southern, Presbyterian and two Division II programs. The women finished ahead of USC Upstate, The Citadel, Charleston Southern, Winthrop, Wofford, Presbyterian and two Division II programs.
Wake Forest, Georgia Tech and North Florida took the top three slots on the men's side while Georgia Tech, North Florida and Appalachian State took the podium spots on the women's side.
Alafaro was WCU's top individual finisher as he placed fourth overall in the 8k race with a time of 25:16.68. Redshirt sophomore Clay Howarth came across 30th in 25:53.81 while redshirt junior Michael Cornwell placed 61st with a time of 26:56.75.
The top three finishers on the women's side were Reese, senior Michelle Provost and redshirt freshman Laney Browder. Reese finished the 5k course in 19:09.35 good for 45th overall. Provost was close behind in 47th with a time of 19:15.11. Browder rounded out WCU's top three with a time of 19:23.92 good for 54th.
The men's final two scorers were sophomore JC Cornett and junior Jamie Bigby who placed 66th and 69th, respectively. Cornett posted a time of 27:06.63 while Bigby finished the course in 27:09.10.
Junior Kaitlyn Shetler and freshman Madison Gooderounded out the women's scorers while placing 81st and 83rd, respectively. Shetler crossed the line in 20:03.30 while Goode finished four seconds later in 20:07.95.
The next three finishers for the women crossed the line in succession including freshman Ashley Taylor (104th, 20:34.07), senior Lena Elliott (105th, 20:34.26) and junior Michaela Williams (106th, 20:40.84). The final women's competitor was freshman Samantha Cook (136th, 22:01.22).
The men's final three competitors were junior Cooper Wurst (79th, 27:25.04), sophomore Tommy Connell (81st, 27:28.17) and freshman Crisman Jones (63rd, 27:28.83).
The cross country teams will return to action in two weeks as they host the WCU Catamount Classic on Friday, Oct. 17.
McGahee, Spiro Highlight Terrier Performance in Upstate Invitational
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Senior Hunter McGahee and freshman Sarah Spiro highlighted the Terriers' performance at the Upstate Invitational on Saturday morning.
McGahee had the team's best finish in the men's race, finishing with a time of 28:20.67 in the men's 8K, good for 69th place. Spiro had the best finish for the women's team, clocking in at 20:26.34 in the women's 5K with a 67th place finish. The Terriers finished in 12th and 13th for women's and men's competition respectively.
Wake Forest would take home the championship on the men's side, while Georgia Tech earned the team victory for the women. Georgia Tech's Jeremy Greenwald won the race for the men, posting a 24:48.52 in the 8K, while Appalachian State's Tristin Van Ord won the women's race with a time of 17:44.88
Sophomores Jonathan Rice and David Grant competed for the men along with freshmen Ben Hensley and William Stutts. For the women, seniors Stacey Mangan and Kiersten Ellsworth, junior Marella Angello, and freshmen Anya Bunao, Chandler Washburn and Breck Peterson all participated in the meet as well.
The Terriers run next Friday, October 17th at the Catamount Classic in Cullowhee, N.C.
Orrender Leads Mercer Cross Country at Greater Lousiville Cross Country Classic
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Mercer women's cross country competed in Event 4 of the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic on Saturday, Oct. 4. Junior Kami Orrender had another strong showing for the Bears. Fresh off a fifth place finish at the Asheville Cross Country Carnival, Orrender took fifth place again (17:58.53) out of a field of 352 to pace the Bears in the 5k.
Other notable finishes for the Bears were junior Jenna Gipperich placing 85th (19:13.35), freshman Courtney Czerniak coming in 146th (19:38.90), and freshman Keightley Dudgeon running to a 202nd place finish (20:08.74).
Mercer finished 27th out of 38 teams with an average time of 19:26.04.
Mercer men's cross country competed in Event 3 of the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic on Saturday, Oct. 4. Junior Victor Kosgei paced Mercer with a 58th place showing (25:48.58) in the 356 man 8k race.
Other notable finishes for Mercer were senior Davis Trexler placing 161st (26:37.70), senior Austin Pfeifer finishing 162nd (26:38.23), and freshman Andrew Anastasiades running to a 185th place finish (26:52.32). Anastasiades also became the first Mercer freshman this season to finish sub 27:00 in an 8k format.
As a team, Mercer placed 33rd in the 42 team field with an average time of 26:42.71.
The Bears will compete next at the Cross Country Only National Invitational hosted by Richmond University on October 17 and at the Front Runner Invitational hosted by Chattanooga on Oct. 18.