GREENVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) men's and women's cross country teams wrapped up their regular season with the Pirate Invitational hosted by East Carolina University on Friday afternoon at Lake Kristi.
The men's team took home its first title of the season out of 12 teams, while the women finished second overall out of 12 teams.
MEN'S TEAM
The men's squad totaled 30 points in the eight-kilometer race, defeating East Carolina by 13 points.
The Spartans saw all nine runners finish in the top 30, with senior
Dylan Christopher leading the way with a third-place finish. Christopher ran the race in 24:55.4. Classmate
Joe Thoma followed, placing fourth with a career best time of 24:59.8.
Sophomore
Michael Zapherson and freshman
Ethan Long rounded out the Spartans in the top 10. Zapherson placed seventh with a time of 25:10.1 and Long clocked in a personal best time of 25:25.8, good for 10
th.
Senior
Colin Alexander took home 16
th running the course in 25:57.8, while freshman
Mason Rudel was the sixth Spartan to cross the finish with a personal best time of 26:03.9, taking home 18
th.
WOMEN'S TEAM
The women's team who totaled 45 points finished runner up to the home team, East Carolina who tallied 24 points. This is the highest team finish for the Spartans this season.
Sophomore
Jenna Reiter led the way for the Spartans for the second time this season, finishing seventh overall with a career best time of 22:05.0. Graduate Student
Ariana Garcia followed Reiter, taking home eighth, clocking in a career best time of 22:19.1 in the six-kilometer race.
Sophomore
Shay Soukup and senior
Chandler McCaslin placed 16
th and 17
th, respectively. Soukup clocked in a career best time of 22:53.2 and McCaslin ran a career best time of 22:54.0. Senior
Jillian Felton rounded out the top five for the Spartans, finishing 23
rd out of 102 competitors crossing the finish line with a career best time of 23:30.3.
Freshman
Bella Manfre finished in the top 30 with her time of 23:56.4, taking home 28
th overall, in her first-collegiate six-kilometer race.
THOUGHTS FROM THE COACH, KALEIGH ROACH
"The women and men raced hard today. We fought hard and we ran to win. I couldn't be more proud of where we are in this moment. The ladies finished up really well and had a lot of personal bests in the 6k. Men raced the second 8k of the year. Ultimately, I am so proud of this crew, where we are, and where we are heading to SoCon Championships."
UP NEXT
The Spartans take two weeks off before taking on championship season, kicking it off with the Southern Conference Championship on Saturday October 30 in Lexington, Virginia.
