WILMINGTON, Del. - - Both of the Wilmington University cross country teams started the 2018 season with a victory, sweeping the 18th Annual WUXC Invitational at Carousel Park on Saturday morning.
The women started the day by placing three runners in the top seven finishers, winning the event with 44 points while the men put all five scoring runners inside the top seven to run away with the event with 19 points.
Freshman Grace Slate stole the show for the Wildcats on the women's side, as she was the top Wildcats finisher and finished second overall with a time of 20:46.02 on the 5K course. Fellow freshmen Rosemary Gillam and Allyson Kelly packed the Top 10 for the Wildcats, finishing in fifth and seventh, respectively, in their first event as a collegiate runner.
Sophomore Alexa Crowell was the fourth point-getter for the Wildcats, finishing 14th overall in a time of 23:12.04. Senior Gabby Brown rounded out the Wildcats scoring, placing 16th overall in a time of 23:23.86. Brown led a trio of Wildcat finishers as Julia Merritt and Emily Kockott were right on her heels by finishing in 17th and 18th overall, respectively.
Newcomer Hannah Fitzpatrick rounded out the Wildcat women on the course with a 27th place finish overall.
USciences' Elizabeth Sauers won the 5K event in a time of 20:33.53, beating the field by nearly 13 seconds.
The women finished with 44 points to defeat Felician by five points. USciences finished with 49 points while Holy Family placed fourth overall with 77 points. Lincoln (Pa.) rounded out the field with 116 points.
On the men's side, it was three newcomers that finished in the top five for the Wildcats, led by freshman Brandon Cruz' second place finish. Cruz' collegiate debut finished with an 8K time of 28:55.97. Although it was a second place finish overall, he earned one point for the Wildcats because Holy Family did not have five finishers.
Miguel Suero finished fourth overall in a time of 30:01.33 followed by newcomer James Kennedy's fifth place finish of 30:03.62. Senior Johnathan Avila was the fourth point getter for the Wildcats, finishing in 30:17.59 for a sixth place finish and newcomer Garrett Checchi rounded out the scoring with a seventh place finish in 30:24.60.
Those five totaled an Invite low 19 points while USciences placed second with 54 points. Felician finished third overall with 67 points While Lincoln (Pa.) closed out the team scoring with 91 points.
Holy Family's Sean Rahill was the individual winner, finishing the 8K event in 28:31.45, over 24 second ahead of the field.
Sean Scandle placed 15th overall while Zak Bracchus finished 18th overall for the Wildcats. Dan Leek placed 22nd overall while Andrew Milham finished 24th overall. Jayven Davis rounded out the Wildcats on the course with a 35th place finish.
The Wildcats return to action next Saturday when they get a look at the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championship course at the Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park. The Philly Metro begins at 12:15 p.m. next Saturday.
AGATE
18th Annual WUXC Invite Team Results:
Women:
Wilmington – 2, 5, 7, 14, 16, 17, 18, 27 = 44 points
Felician – 3, 4, 10, 13, 19, 30 (29), 31 (30), 32, 34, 40 = 49 points
USciences – 1, 11, 12, 21, 24, 26, 28 (27), 35, 42 = 69 points
Holy Family – 6, 8, 15, 23, 25, 29 (28), 33 (31), 39, 41 = 77 points
Lincoln – 9, 20, 22, 36 (32), 37 (33), 38 = 116 points
Men:
Wilmington – 2 (1), 4 (3), 5 (4), 6 (5), 7 (6), 15, 18, 22, 24 = 19 points
USciences – 9 (7), 10 (8), 13 (11), 14 (12), 19 (16), 21, 28, 29, 36 = 54 points
Felician – 3 (2), 12 (10), 16 (14), 23 (19), 27 (22), 33 = 67 points
Lincoln – 11 (9), 20 (17), 25 (20), 26 (21), 31 (24), 32, 34, 37 = 91 points
Holy Family – 1, 8, 17, 30
