Mercer Men, Women Claim Inaugural Julius Johnson Invite
MACON, Ga. – The Mercer University men’s and women's cross country teams both took first place at the inaugural Julius Johnson Invitational at the Georgia Industrial Children's Home on Friday evening.
On the men’s side, freshman Ahmed Jama picked up his first collegiate win on Friday night, leading Mercer to a win. The Bears came close to a perfect score, placing five runners among the top-seven to cruise to the team title with a total tally of 23 on their home course. Jacksonville State finished second with a score of 36 on the evening.
For the women, Jenna Gipperich nearly eclipsed her top time from the 2014 season in the team's first 5k of the year, finishing second to lead the Bears with the a time of 19:14.87. Kami Orrender followed with a fifth-place effort, crossing the line in 19:32.04.
The Bears had two other finishers place among the top-10 with Bethanie Bailey (20:10.38) and Katie-Rose Alligood (20:26.23) coming in ninth and tenth. Courtney Czerniak rounded out the scoring for Mercer with a 13th-place finish to help Mercer edge out Georgia State by two points for the team title.
The Bears return to action next weekend, as they compete in the Upstate Invitational in Spartanburg, S.C. on Oct. 3.
UNCG Cross Country Competes at Charlotte Invitational
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The UNCG cross country teams competed at the Charlotte Invitational at McAlpine Creek Park Friday evening. The men’s team finished sixth overall with Dakarai Shipp crossing the line first for the Spartans on the eight-kilometer course. Amy Moret was the top finisher on the women’s side clocking a 26:10.9 in the six-kilometer race.
Shipp placed 15th overall with a time of 26:36.0 for a career-best 8k shaving over a minute off his personal best time he set in 2013. The second Spartan to finish was Brandon King who clocked a 27:22.0 for a 27th-place finish. David Guthrie was ten runners behind King, crossing the line in 28:10.6. Nicholas Erwin finished 53rd overall while Jonathan Hodge wasn’t far behind crossing the line 56th overall to round out the Spartans top-five runners.
In just the first 6k of her career as a Spartan, Moret placed 41st overall finishing in 26 minutes and 10 seconds. Meredith Hicks was also amongst the top-50 finishers placing 49th with a time of 27:36.7. Sarah DeSantis finished in 28:26.1, good for 51st overall. Kayla Wetherell and MaKayla Yables were the last two Spartans in the top-five, finishing in 59th and 60th respectively.
UNCG travels north to South Bend, Ind., for the Joe Piane Invitational hosted by Notre Dame Oct. 2. Start time is slated for 2 p.m.