VIDEO RECAP AT BOTTOM OF PAGE.
Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of Ken Fontal (left) and Isaac Ndirangu taken by Frank Stallworth.
WILMINGTON, Del. - - The one-two punch of Isaac Ndirangu and Ken Fontal helped lead the Wilmington University men's cross country team to a narrow victory while the women finished second overall at the 16th Annual WUXC Invite on Saturday morning at Carousel Park.
The women started the 2016 season with the first gun of the morning, claiming 44 points to finish second behind only USciences. Christine Czajkowski led the Wildcats with five points following an 11th place finish. The Wildcats then finished 14th, 15th, 16th, and 18th, to earn the second place finish.
Czajkowski ran the 5K course with a new personal record of 22:35.77. Freshman Emily Kockott was the second Wildcat to cross the line, finished 14th overall but earned eight points with a time of 22:54.84 in her first collegiate event. Rachel Jones followed Kockott with a 15th place finish and nine points in a time of 22:03.78.
Graduate student Joelle Prettyman was the fourth finisher for the Wildcats, finishing 16th overall for 10 points in a time of 23:21.32. The final scorer for the Wildcats earned 12 points after finishing 18th overall, as Tori Vickers crossed the line in 23:41.19.
Nicole Brevoort claimed the 29th overall spot in a time of 25:28.75 in her first event as a Wildcat, while Tori Crawford wrapped up the Wildcats on Saturday with a time of 27:30.89.
The duo of Ndirangu and Fontal kick started the men's squad as they scored 33 points to defeat Nyack by four points. Running in his first event as a Wildcat, Ndirangu out-kicked Fontal down the stretch to win individual honors in 28:03.97. Fontal followed in second with a time of 28:12.63.
Johnathan Avila gave the Wildcats five points with his fifth place finish in 29:35.95, but Nyack cut into the lead with third, sixth, eighth, ninth, and an 11th place finish. Logan Brady and Manny Suero wrapped up the victory with a 12th and 13th place finish, respectively.
Brady crossed the line in 30:56.06 while Suero followed in 31:20.24, but the team still needed to see the results to make sure they pulled out the victory. Jayven Davis wrapped up the Wildcats on the course on Saturday, finishing 44th overall with a time of 40:12.23.
The Wildcats continue their 2016 season next Saturday as they head remain in the First State with a trip to White Clay Creek State Park. The University of Delaware Invite #1 begins at 10:00 a.m. on September 10.
AGATE:
16th Annual WUXC Invite Results:
Women
1. USciences – 25
2. Wilmington – 44
3. Holy Family – 81
4. Delaware Tech CC – 86
5. Lincoln – 111
Men
1. Wilmington – 33
2. Nyack – 37
3. Holy Family – 80
4. Howard CC – 92
5. Delaware Tech CC – 113
6. Cumberland CC – 142
7. Lincoln - 181
