SSC Runners Compete in NCAA DII Cross Country Championship
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Both Tampa teams and four individuals from other SSC schools traveled to Spokane, Wash., to participate in the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championship on Saturday.
In the women’s 6K race, Tampa placed 16th of 24 teams with 429 points. Augustana (S.D.) won the event with 75 points.
Heather Nicolosi led the UT contingent, finishing 24th of 186 runners. She turned in a time of 22:07.0. Jess Butler was 69th with a mark of 23:21.8.
The Spartans’ remaining three scoring runners crossed the finish line in close proximity to one another. Kaia Hampton placed 109th (24:05.2), while Kelly Hagen was 112th (24:08.2), and Katie O’Brien was 115th (24:11.8).
Florida Tech’s Nicole Clarke and Saint Leo’s Tereza Novotna competed individually in the championship. Clarke’s time of 22:34.9 was 47th. Novotna turned in a mark of 23:03.0 to finish 64th.
In the men’s 10K race, Tampa placed 24th out of 24 teams with 702 points. Western State won the national title with an impressive tally of 27 points.
Lewis Price was UT’s best finisher, completing the course in a time of 34:20.4 to place 125th of 187 runners. Charles Toledo was 134th with a mark of 34:39.1. The Spartans’ remaining scorers nearly crossed the line in succession, with Mike Zwijacz in 146th (35:02.0), Peter Orgass in 147th (35:06.5), and Tory Webb in 150th (35:15.1).
Florida Southern’s Eric Larson, who competed as an individual, was the SSC’s top finisher. Larson placed 103rd with a time of 33:35.0. Also competing individually, Florida Tech’s Moses Kirui was 187th with a mark of 39:03.9.
