MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The Valdosta State men's and women's cross country teams competed at the Gulf South Conference XC Championship at the Montevallo Cross Country Course Saturday morning as the men's team took fifth overall, for its best finish since 2014 in the 8K race. The Blazer women's team took 10th overall in the 5K race.
The race marked the second time this season the two teams raced at the Montevallo Cross Country Course, as the teams competed at the UAB XC Invite on Oct. 14 where the men's side took seventh overall and the women's team took 11th overall.
For the women, Lee took first place overall with 30 points, while Mississippi College (49), Alabama Huntsville (62), Auburn Montgomery (164) and West Florida (173) rounded out the top five. Union followed with 182 points, while Montevallo (183), Christian Brothers (191) and West Georgia (244) finished just ahead of the Blazers. VSU came in tenth overall with 263 points and a total time of 1:47:34 while Delta State (335) and Shorter (366) rounded out the field.
Sophomore Caitlyn Koske finished as the top Blazer finisher with a time of 19:39, good for 28th overall, while junior Katie LaCroix finished 53rd overall with a time of 20:39.60. Juniors Kyleigh Rice and Jaycie Anderson, who was the Guardian Bank Runner of the Race, after almost meeting her PR time, finished 71st and 75th with times of 21:29.8 and 22:02.9, respectively, while freshman Emily Phillips rounded out the Blazer finishers 87thoverall with a time of 23:43.60.
On the men's side, Lee (38), Mississippi College (41) and Alabama Huntsville (60) took the top three spots while Montevallo took fourth overall with 161 points. Valdosta State rounded out the top five with 186 points and a team time of 2:10:57. Auburn Montgomery (193) followed the Blazers, while Christian Brothers (196), Union (212), West Alabama (224) and West Florida (249) rounded out the top 10. West Georgia (285) and Shorter (388) rounded out the teams in 11th and 12th respectively.
Senior Brishen House finished as the top Blazer runner for the men, 24th overall, with a time of 25:11. Senior Logan Kraus, the Guardian Bank Blazer Runner of the Race, followed suit with a PR time of 25:25.4, good for 28thoverall, while senior Charlie Eaton finished 45th overall with a PR time of 26:21.2. Seniors Adam Mastrobuono and Braedon Bensley finished in 60th and 62nd, with times of 26:53.9 and 27:05.6, respectfully. Senior Dalton Pender and Matthew Herndon finished 72nd and 73rd with times of 27:43.4 and a PR of 27:45.6. Freshman Gavin Sadowski and junior Austen Sekowski rounded out the Blazer finishers in 79th and 83rd with times of 28:15.2 and 28:42.4.
The men's team had a great final push to move into fifth as it sat seventh at the 6.8K mark and, over the final 1.2K, hit its stride to move up two spots to fifth. VSU finished sixth in each of the last two conference championship races.
As for the Red Clay Rivalry Series with West Georgia, VSU earned a point for the higher finish on the men's side, while UWG earned a point on the women's side. For the fall sports, UWG leads 3.5 to 1.5, heading into the winter season. UWG has wins in football (1 point), women's soccer (1 point) and women's cross country, while the two schools split the two meetings in volleyball this season, earning a half a point each.
The Blazer cross country teams look to continue the post-season push, as the NCAA DII South Region XC Championship is slated for Nov. 19 in Lakeland, Fla. The men will run a 10k race while the women will run a 6k race. Check back with vstateblazers.com and the men's and women's cross country schedule page for start times and all other updates on Blazer cross country.
Women's 5k Results
28. Caitlyn Koske – 19:39.00
53. Katie LaCroix – 20:39.60
71. Kyleigh Rice – 21:29.80
75. Jaycie Anderson – 22:02.90
87. Emily Phillips – 23:43.60
Men's 8k Results
24. Brishen House – 25:11.00
28. Logan Kraus – 25:25.40 (PR)
45. Charlie Eaton – 26:21.20 (PR)
60. Adam Mastrobuono – 26:53.90
62. Braedon Bensley – 27:05.60
72. Dalton Pender – 27:43.40
73. Matthew Herndon – 27:45.60 (PR)
79. Gavin Sadowski – 28:15.20
83. Austen Sekowski – 28:42.40
