Oakwood, Ga. – The Dalton State girls cross country team finished fifth out of 12 schools in Saturday morning’s University of North Georgia Invitational meet.
The Lady Roadrunners tallied 100 points with an average 6K time of 20:43 and a total time of 1:43:31.
There were 103 participants in the race. The top Dalton State runner was Gloria Pascual. She was 11th overall with a time of 19:59. Natalie Hensley was 13th at 20:06.
Nayelli Jacoba finished 17th (20:34). Mallory Edwards was 28th (21:20). Kuersten Gallivan was 31st (21:32). Jessica Brock finished 43rd (22:00) and Olivia Bird was 51st (22:33).
Dalton State co-coaches Margie Bruner expressed optimism about the results against schools who have been competing for a long time.
“They have a little work to do but they have a good attitude and they are willing to do the necessary work,” said Bruner.
Three of the four teams ahead of Dalton State were from NCAA D-II. The hosts from the University of North Georgia and Young Harris are from the Peach Belt Conference. The University of West Georgia is in the Gulf South Conference.
Brenau University is currently ranked number one in the Southern States Athletic Conference.
UNG won the meet with 28 points and an average time of 19:29. They also had the top three runners in the event. Individual winner Brittany Truitt had one point had a time of 18:56. Next came Maggie Tindol with three points and a time of 19:19. Third place went to Emily Beusse with a time of 19:29.
Young Harris finished second with 75 points and an average time of 20:16. Brenau was third with 92 points and an average of 20:29. The University of West Georgia was just ahead of Dalton State with 97 points and an average of 20:33.
Covenant College was way behind the Lady Roadrunners in sixth place. They had 143 points (21:18). SCAD Atlanta finished seventh (221 points, 23:22) the University of South Carolina at Aiken was eight (250 points, 23:45). Clark Atlanta University finished ninth followed by Oglethorpe University and Agnes Scott College.
The next competition will be on Oct. 11 at Greenville, S.C.. at the Gene Mullis Invitational.