Results (PDF)
• The Panthers claimed victory in their second consecutive meet
• HPU placed three runners in the top-10
• Senior
Natalia Ocasio placed third to lead the Purple & White
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – For the second time in as many meets, the High Point University women's cross country team claimed victory, winning the Asheville Cross Country Challenge on Saturday.
The Panthers notched three top-10 finishes and posted 57 points overall to win the Big South preview meet. Campbell finished second (73), followed by Western Carolina (84), Winthrop (95) and host UNC Asheville (134).
"A win is a win and we always like those, but we had some soft spots," head coach
Remy Tamer said. "We had some individual successes but we didn't run together as a team. If we expect to win a championship as a team, we need to work together and find success as a group."
Senior
Natalia Ocasio returned to form Saturday, placing third in the 5K race in a time of 18:48.32. Fellow senior
Cozette Collin was right behind in fourth (18:53.67).
Sophomore
Keaton Case served as HPU's third top-10 runner, placing ninth in 19:21.28.
Freshman
Kylie Hennessey crossed the finish line 19
th in 19:40.29 and freshman
Zoe Geis rounded out the HPU top-5 with a time of 19:51.99.
The Panthers sixth and seventh runners were freshman
Emily Boger (20:12.12) and sophomore
Courtney Kerr (20:21.82), who finished 29
th and 34
th respectively.
Rounding out the Panther contingent, freshman
Charis Dinger placed 40
th (20:34.18) and freshman
Kallie Baughman was 82
nd (22:47.06).
The Panthers now take a two-week competitive break before hosting the program's first home meet since 2009, the VertCross Invitational. The race will be held in Kernersville, N.C., on Oct. 14 at 5:15 p.m.
#GoHPU
