Aug 30, 2013
Nashville, Tenn. – The No. 20 Vanderbilt women’s cross country team claimed second place at the Belmont Opener at Percy Warner Park Friday afternoon with five runners in the top 15.
Sophomore Vanessa Valentine paced the team with a time of 18:25.20 to take eighth place overall. After Valentine, the Dores came home in pairs with freshman Courtney Kriegshauser and junior Rebecca Chandler crossing the line in 10th and 11th overall. Freshman Carmen Carlos and junior Claire Benjamin placed 14th and 15th respectively. For Kriegshauser and Carlos it was their first-ever collegiate race. Kriegshauser covered the 5K course in 18:28.37 and Carlos in 18:38.71. Benjamin shattered her 5K cross country personal best, running the race in 18:44.35 to top her previous best of 20:23.10. Junior Katherine Delaney finished in 19:04.60 with freshman Reagan Anderson coming in next at 19:11.70. Sara Barron notched a time of 19:23.38 just in front of senior Megan Yohe, who finished in 19:25.74.
Lanni Marchant of the Nashville Harriers took the top spot with a time of 17:08.30 with Lipscomb taking the team title.
In the men’s race, freshman Jake Van Geffen led the way for the Dores with a time of 16:52.84 in his first collegiate race. John Ewing followed with a time of 17:02.50 and Nick French ran 17:14.45 over 5K. Vandy’s top five was rounded out by Matthew Cleveland at 17:22.16 and Sam Reilly at 17:26.21. For Reilly it was his first race as a Commodore after transferring from Bates College. Andrew Bachman stopped the clock at 17:34.30 and David McAdams at 17:35.59. Freshman Sam Andrews finished in 17:53.29 in his first collegiate race. Andrew Fix clocked in at 18:04.22 and Dan Henderson came across the line at 19:16.34 to round out the Commodores’ squad.
Tennessee’s Peter Okwera took home the men’s top time at 15:41.85.
The Commodores’ return to Percy Warner Park on September 14 to host the Commodore Classic.
