Cross Country Races to Third

Blazers, Lady Blazers get fast start

DUE WEST, S.C. - Both the Valdosta State men's and women's cross country teams raced to third place finishes at the Erskine Invitational Saturday.

Both squads competed on a European style course, with the women's race covering 4K (2.48 miles) while the men's race travelled 6K (3.72 miles).

The women's squad opened the day with a pair of top 10 finishes as Jordanne Helton recorded a time of 16:40 to finish fifth overall while Angelina Horne was just four seconds back and in sixth place. Ashley Luther placed 17th with a time of 17:42 and Kaynekka Gibbs was 20th in a time of 17:59. Ashley Hiott came home 28th in a time of 18:40 while Tiffany Zuganelis was 18 seconds back and in 31st. Ashley Claassen and Andrea Smith rounded out the Lady Blazer squad with showings of 51st and 65th.

As a squad, VSU finished with 71 points, just 19 behind Pfeiffer who claimed team honors with 52 points. Spartanburg Methodist's Rosa Young claimed individual medalist honors with a time of 16:12.

Mars Hill won the men's meet with 43 points, followed by host Erskine in second with 51 and the Blazers in third with 64. Erskine's Adam Groblewski defended his home turf as he ran a time of 19:49 to claim medalist honors.

For the Blazers, Chris Rice finished sixth overall with a time of 20:42 while Austin McDonald was ninth at 21:12. Alan McGough was a second behind and finished 10th while Steve Cary placed 15th with a time of 21:44. Corey Stejback came home in a time of 22:42 to finish 25th while Terence Boyd (23:17, Kenny Brooks (23:33), Marc Kaiser (24:49) and Daniel McCormick (24:53) all tallied Top 50 finishes for VSU.

The Blazers and Lady Blazers return to action next weekend when they travel to Memphis, Tenn. For the Christian Brother Twilight Invitational.

Current News >>