CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Elon men’s and women’s cross country teams opened up the 2011 season in spectacular fashion with the women earning first (17 points) and the men second (41 points) at the College of Charleston Invitational today, Sept. 10. Junior Morgan Denecke, who finished first in the women’s 5K and set a new school-record time of 17:56 highlighted the meet for the Phoenix, held at Trophy Lakes.
Denecke, followed by sophomore Allyson Oram (18:12), junior Emily Tryon (18:16) and freshman Haylee Dawe (18:22) took the top four spots in the women’s race, giving the team the win by 37 points. Oram, Tryon and Dawe all set new personal bests placing them fourth through sixth on the women’s 5K all-time performance list.
Junior Christine Pacewicz earned seventh with a time of 18:53, followed by personal bests from redshirt freshman Julie Hart (18:54) and sophomore Amanda Parker (19:04) who finished eighth and ninth, respectively.
“It was a strong opening meet as a team for the women,” said Elon cross country coach Christine Engel. “It was great to see the strength up front as well as a lot of depth. For Morgan to set a new school record in the first meet of the season was really exciting.”
The Cougars of CofC finished second behind the Phoenix women with 54 total points. Georgia Southern (54 points), UNC-Pembroke (122 points), The Citadel (141 points), Charleston Southern (153 points), South Carolina State (181 points) and South Carolina-Beaufort (215 points) placed third through eighth.
Freshman Luis Vargas earned second on the men’s side with a time of 25:29 that ranks fourth on the men’s 8K all-time performance list. Sophomore Ben Perron finished in 25:55 for fifth, while senior #Conor O’Brien# (26:15) and freshman Ari Rothschild (26:17) rounded out the top ten taking ninth and 10th.
Finishing 15th was freshman Adam Bernstein with a time of 26:44. Senior Clay Sankey finished with a time of 26:49 to earn 16th, while junior Ranley Gousse took 18th after crossing the finish line in 26:57.
“It was a great up front effort by Luis on the men’s side after finishing with the fourth best time in school history in his first ever 8K,” said Engel. “There are some gaps we need to close going into next week in our meet at home.”
College of Charleston captured the title on the men’s side with 33 points. Behind Elon was UNC-Pembroke (81 points), The Citadel (109 points), Charleston Southern (126 points) and South Carolina State (167 points).
Both squads will return to action next Saturday, Sept. 17, as the Phoenix hosts the third-annual Elon Invitational on the Elon University campus.
Women’s Team Results
1. Elon – 17 points
2. College of Charleston – 54 points
3. Georgia Southern – 91 points
4. UNC-Pembroke – 122 points
5. The Citadel – 141 points
6. Charleston Southern – 153 points
7. South Carolina State – 181 points
8. South Carolina – Beaufort – 215 points
Elon Women’s Results
1. Morgan Denecke – 17:56
2. Allyson Oram – 18:12
3. Emily Tryon – 18:16
4. Haylee Dawe – 18:22
7. Christine Pacewicz – 18:53
8. Julie Hart – 18:54
9. Amanda Parker – 19:04
21. Brennan McDavid – 19:37
22. Erin Macbeth – 19:39
23. Kylie Womack – 19:47
24. Nicole Esplin – 19:48
25. #Katelyn O’Dunne# – 19:49
29. Jenny Gallagher – 20:04
38. Ellie Taff – 20:23
40. Jackie Madden – 20:40
Men’s Team Results
1. College of Charleston – 33 points
2. Elon – 41 points
3. UNC-Pembroke – 81 points
4. The Citadel – 109 points
5. Charleston Southern – 126 points
6. South Carolina State – 167 points
Elon Men’s Results
2. Luis Vargas – 25:29
5. Ben Perron – 25:55
9. #Conor O’Brien# – 26:15
10. Ari Rothschild – 26:17
15. Adam Bernstein – 26:44
16. Clay Sankey – 26:49
18. Ranley Gousse – 26:57
35. Lucas Walters – 28:20
36. Connor Mercurio – 28:26
41. James Stevenson – 28:48
45. Sean Martyn – 29:16
-- ELON --
