University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
North Carolina Challenge
Cross Country Sweeps Meet From ACC Power Tar Heels and N.C. Central
09/18/2009 | Cross Country
Sept. 18, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The Richmond men's and women's cross country teams swept the University of North Carolina Challenge Friday evening, beating the host Tar Heels and N.C. Central in Chapel Hill, N.C. Jenn Ennis and Tim Quinn each led the Spiders for the second-consecutive meet.
Although Tar Heels were the individual race winners on each side, the Spiders' Ennis led six women in the top 10 and Richmond beat North Carolina 25-32 and N.C. Central 25-80. Quinn also placed second and was one of six Spiders in the top 10 as the Spiders nipped the Heels 28-29, and beat N.C. Central 28-79.
"The women ran a nice team race today," said women's head coach Lori Taylor. "They worked together throughout to beat UNC in a head-to-head competition. We had very good races up front by Jenn, Julie (Rechel) and Beth (Kelly) who controlled most of the race. Jenn ran nearly 45 seconds faster than she's ever run and it confirms what we've seen in her training for the past month."
Ennis was second in a time of 17:42.40 on the women's 5k course at Finley Fields, and was followed closely in third place by Rechel (17:49.90). Kelly was sixth (18:11.30), Rachel Sykes was eighth (18:13.00), Alyssa Mankin was ninth (18:20.00) and Carter Norbo was 10th (18:26.80) to round out the Spiders in the top 10.
"This was a team effort today," said Taylor. "I'm pleased with the competitiveness our athletes showed and how well they closed over the final mile. I like to see our athletes on the starting line with the expectation of winning. It was a good day for our program."
For the men, Quinn was clocked in 25:15.70 to finish second in the 8k race. He was followed by Levi Grandt in third (25:17.20), Jason Skipper in sixth (25:49.00), Chris York in eighth (26:16.20), Garrett Graham in ninth (26:18.80) and Tim Smith in 10th (26:19.00) to account for the Spiders in the top 10.
"Like the women, we won today as a team," said men's head coach Steve Taylor. "The men executed our race plan and won the team race in the last mile. At four miles, we were down by a point (28-29) but over the final mile our team made a strong move to take the lead. Everyone laid it on the line. We had good leadership up front in Tim and Levi."
The times for both Quinn and Grandt represented personal-best 8k marks.
"We're happy with the win and believe it speaks volumes for our Richmond program," said Taylor.
The Spiders head next to the Paul Short Invitational Oct. 2 in Lehigh, Pa.
