JMU Takes Ninth at NCAA Southeast Regional

Friday, November 13

Charlottesville, Va.

Noon

James Madison University

NCAA Southeast Regional Championship

11/13/2015 3:24:00 PM | Cross Country

EARLYSVILLE, Va. – Senior Kathleen Stewart placed in the top 20, leading James Madison women's cross country to a ninth-place team finish at the NCAA Southeast Regional Friday afternoon at Panorama Farms.

With her 19th-place finish (18th scoring), Stewart was named to the All-Region Team, an honor which requires a top-25 finish. The senior clocked a 21:24.6 in the 6K competition that included 235 runners from 33 universities.

Junior Carol Strock also conquered the hilly terrain in under 22 minutes in 30th (29th scoring) with a time of 21:50.8. Junior Tessa Mundell gave the Dukes a third top-50 finisher with a time of 22:12.2 to earn 46th place (45th scoring).

Sophomore Erica Gray finished in 96th (93rd scoring) with a time of 22:59.0. Freshmen Olivia Viparina (23:07.9) and Erin Saunders (23.09.7) crossed the finish line just under two seconds apart, earning 112th (109th scoring) and 114th (111th scoring) place, respectively.

Freshman Jackie O'Shea rounded out the scoring for the Dukes with a time of 24:37.6 to take 193rd.

Virginia took the top spot with 53 points and five top-15 finishers. CAA opponent William & Mary finished fourth with 187 points, led by Regan Rome, who sped to a fifth-place individual finish. Senior Letitia Saayman from Coastal Carolina took the top spot with a time of 20:25.1.

James Madison tallied 294 points (18-29-45-93-109-111) as a team to record its top-10 regional finish.

Quoting Head Coach Dave Rinker
"I thought we got the most out of the day that we could. I thought we ran very well, especially Kathleen. She made All-Region finishing 19th which is the highest finish we have had by anybody in the past few years."

Post Race Interview - Head Coach Dave Rinker

Post Race Interview - Senior Kathleen Stewart

Photo of the Race
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CAA Finishes
4th - William & Mary – 187 points (4-20-32-48-83-91)
7th – Elon – 269 points (24-39-59-73-74-88-142)
9th – James Madison – 294 points (18-29-45-93-109-111)
23rd – Charleston – 585 points ( 90-103-112-129-151-159-174)

Looking Ahead
Team and individual qualifiers for the 2015 NCAA Cross Country Championships will be announced on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 3 p.m. Those that qualify will compete on Saturday, Nov. 21 at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer Park in Louisville, Kentucky. The Dukes are familiar with the course as several members of the team ran there earlier this season on Oct. 17.