CHARLOTTE, N.C.- The Ave Maria University women's cross country team earned a team title on Friday afternoon, as the Gyrenes were the champions of the Blue Division, which contained Division II, Division III, and NAIA schools. The Gyrenes easily outpaced second place West Georgia by a 32-point margin. The AMU men also placed in the top ten of the Blue Division in their race, which followed the women's contest.
Theresa Long was the top collegiate finisher in the Blue Division, crossing the finish line with a time of 18:43.2 to earn her first individual title as a Gyrene. Long passed runners from Lees McRae and Asbury in the second half of the race, and ended up being the top collegiate finisher by more than 16 seconds. The 18:43.2 time was Long's fastest of the season to date, and ranked as the seventh fastest 5k time in school history. It also marked the second fastest time of Long's two seasons at Ave Maria.
Felicity Foxhoven also placed in the top ten for AMU, and was one of only 13 runners to finish in under 20 minutes at 19:51.6. Lily Burke placed 16th overall with a time of 20:18.4, and Gabrielle Sjostedt followed with a time of 21:09.7. Lillian Brodeur rounded out Ave Maria's victorious team score, crossing the finish line with a time of 21:16.4.
On the men's side, Adam Paga was Ave Maria's top finisher, running the 8k course in Charlotte in 27:21.9. The time of Paga's fastest of the season, and ranked as a top 30 time in school history. Joseph Perreault wasn't far behind Paga, clocking in at 27:36.5, while Christopher Hermann rounded out AMU's top three with a time of 28:19.9.
Jorge Jimenez was Ave Maria's number four finisher, placing with a time of 28:36.9. The Ave Maria team score was completed by Samuel Paga, who checked in at 28:48.6 to finish in the top half of the field. NCAA Division II Augusta claimed the team title in the Blue Division, powered by two of the top 12 finishers. The individual title was won by Tyler Jenkins from the University of Rio Grande, who crossed the finish line with a 25:35.7 time.
The regular season for the Gyrene cross country teams comes to an end in just over two weeks, as AMU plays host to the Ave Maria Invitational. The home meet, held at North Park in Ave Maria, will be AMU's final tune-up before The Sun Conference Championships in the first week of November. The starting gun will be fired shortly after 7:30 a.m. in Ave Maria on Saturday, October 22.
