HIGHLANDERS MAKE STRIDES IN FINAL PREP FOR REGIONAL

Friday, November 4

Blacksburg, VA

5:15PM

Radford University

Hokie Open

Photo by: Radford Athletics Communications

HIGHLANDERS MAKE STRIDES IN FINAL PREP FOR REGIONAL

11/4/2016 10:39:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Cross Country

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BLACKSBURG, Va. – In its final race before next week's regional meet, the Radford women's cross country team turned in a strong all-around performance at the Hokie Open on Friday.

All five of the Highlander runners that competed on the Virginia Tech 4K course in the season opener, bettered their times on Friday, with four of them making significant cuts.

Courtney Rice and Percie Lyons led the way, finishing consecutively in 15th and 16th place and cutting 26 and 27 seconds from their previous times, respectively. Rice crossed the line in 15:04.8, with Lyons right behind with a personal-best 15:13.6.

Allison Brennan also clocked her a career best and was Radford's third finisher in 15:31.8, 44 seconds quicker than her September time. Freshman Olivia Hodge rounded out Radford's top five and cut 42 seconds off with a time of 15:49.9. In between, Mariah Quintero crossed the line in 15:40.8.

After its successful third-place Big South finish, the top runners on Radford's men side did not compete in Friday's 6K race as they prepare on their own for the regional. However, three of the Highlanders who did run cut their times, led by Nathan Burgreen, who clocked a personal-best by 17 seconds, finishing in 20:12.5. Kyle Hetrick followed in 21:08.9, while freshmen Neil Lucas and Brennan Johnson ran unattached and improved by 61 and 73 seconds, respectively. Lucas clocked 20:18.2, whle Johnson finished in 20:34.8.

This year's NCAA Southeast Regional meet will be held in Charlottesville on Friday.

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