WILLIAMSON 11TH; HIGHLANDERS POST NUMEROUS PERSONAL BESTS AT VT ALUMNI INVITE

Friday, September 19

Blacksburg, Va.

All Day

Radford University

Virginia Tech Alumni Invite

WILLIAMSON 11TH; HIGHLANDERS POST NUMEROUS PERSONAL BESTS AT VT ALUMNI INVITE

9/19/2014 10:18:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

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BLACKSBURG, Va. – Competing against several national-ranked ACC program, senior Teresa Williamson turned in an 11th place finish and was one of 16 Highlanders that posted personal best times as the cross country squads competed at the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational on Friday evening at the Buford Meredith Cross Country Course. As teams, the Highlanders finished sixth in both races.

"Our men's and women's squads stepped to a huge challenge today, racing against several nationally-ranked programs after a tough week of training," cross country coach Mackenzie Wartenberger said. "I am thrilled with the progress I saw, from our seniors all the way down to our freshmen."

Williamson was amongst the lead pack, which consisted on 6th-ranked Florida State and North Carolina, for the first half of the race and churned out an impressive 21:44.30 in a field that also featured the hosts and No. 22 Virginia Tech. Her time was just .40 seconds behind and 8.7 seconds ahead of her nearest competitors.

Here's and #infographic on the women's XC (@RadfordTrack) efforts at VT this evening pic.twitter.com/eIMhxwZw3M
— Radford Track&Field (@RadfordTrack) September 20, 2014

"These athletes have solidified that they are a team to be reckoned with come November," said Wartenberger.

Senior Madeline Thomas (22:57.40), red-shirt senior Katie Hickey (23:07.50) were next in line for the Highlanders. They took the biggest chunks out of their PRs as Hickey was over a minute and Thomass 44.6 seconds better than the times they posted at last year's Charlotte Invite.

"Especially impressive tonight was senior Madeline Thomas, who ran a huge 5k PR en route to a second-place team finish," commented Wartenberger.

On the 8k men's course that had the likes the 19th-ranked Tar Heels and 25th-ranked Seminoles, sophomore Chaz Porter (26:21.30), along with freshmen Brady Guertin (26:33.90), Matthew Farmer (26:39.20), and Jacob Black (27:01.60) placed 47th, 50th, 52nd and 58th, churning out personal bests. Junior Harrison Murn also continued his strong start as he put forth his second consecutive career-best time with a 27:32.50.

Here's and #infographic on the men's XC (@RadfordTrack) effort at VT this evening pic.twitter.com/9RzFRlxzbf
— Radford Track&Field (@RadfordTrack) September 20, 2014

"I was also thrilled with the performance of sophomore Chaz Porter, who is bridging up to 8k after focusing on the 800m all spring, and who looks to be in the form of his career thus far," Wartenberger. "We get back to work for the next few weeks, and I'm excited to see this group continue to push themselves."