HARDEEVILLE, S.C. --- The Ave Maria men's cross country team recorded a program-best third place finish, while the Lady Gyrenes finished fifth at the Sun Conference Championships on Saturday morning, hosted by the University of South Carolina-Beaufort.
Gyrene freshman Gabriel Hogan had a record day, finishing seventh overall in the field with a school-record 8000m time of 26:42.35. His individual finish also allowed him to claim one of four individual at-large bids to the NAIA Cross Country National Championships to be held in Elsah, Ill. on Nov. 19.
Hogan, along with Thomas Mullally (27:36.34), John Lowrey (28:30.35), Caleb Selecter (29:07.45), and Joseph Swehla (29:21.14) finished as the five scorers for the AMU men. Saturday's meet marked personal bests for Lowrey and Swehla, along with Benjamin Ebaugh (29:40.37), Ambrose Bean (29:59.44) and Josh McCusker (30:13.01).
The Lady Gyrenes were led by sophomore Michaela Elmer (20:21.80) who finished 24th overall. Maria Graves (20:41.39), Claire Hobrock (20:36.62), Brigid Lennon (20:50.33), and Theresa Suarez (20:57.75) rounded out the five scorers for the Blue and Green. The ladies' finishes were career bests for Hobrock, Lennon, and Suarez, along with Mary Rexroat (21:10.80), Mary Kozik (21:33.19), Emma Patriquin (22:21.49), and Mary Buzzanca (22:32.17).
The Runnin' Gyrenes once again recorded the top scoring average in school history for both the men's (28:15.52) and women's (20:43.57) teams, besting the previous records by 15 and eight seconds respectively.
Hogan was named First-Team All-Conference, while senior John Gargano was voted the conference Champions of Character award winner for men's cross country. Gargano, who serves as president of AMU's Student Government Association and is a Mother Teresa Scholar, has traveled to Calcutta, India, to serve with the Missionaries of Charity and volunteers more than 10 hours a week with local charities, in addition to being highly involved with a number of groups on campus.
Ten Ave Maria runners were also named to the Sun Conference All-Academic Team.
Joseph Swehla, Ave Maria
Ethan Weltens, Ave Maria
Thomas Mullally, Ave Maria
Mary Buzzanca, Ave Maria
Maria Graves, Ave Maria
Mary Kozik, Ave Maria
Marie Mullally, Ave Maria
Mary Rexroat, Ave Maria
Clare Eckard, Ave Maria
Brigid Lennon, Ave Maria
The NAIA Cross Country National Championships will be held on Saturday, November 19th on North Farm in Elsah, Ill.
