Cross Country Begins Season at UVA Duals

Saturday, September 1

Panorama Farm, Va.

9:45 a.m.

James Madison University

UVa Opener

9/1/2018 12:39:00 PM | Cross Country

Photo Gallery UVA Duals Results

EARLYSVILLE, Va. – After a long 287 days since their last meet, the James Madison Cross Country team put on their singlets and began the 2018 season at the UVA Duals in Earlysville, Va. The Dukes defeated Norfolk State 20-35 while Virginia defeated JMU 18-37 in the dual format.

RACE RECAP:

Erica Jackson led the Dukes with a fourth place finish (14:48.11) in the 4K
Erin Saunders rounded out the top-10 with 10^th place (15:07.73)
Following Saunders was Averi Witt (11^th), Jodi Tolarchyk (12^th), Kayla Connelly (13^th) and Madelynn Knight (14^th)
Three freshmen competed in their first collegiate race; Tolarchyk, Lanie Jo Knight and Grace Edison
Tolarchyk led all JMU freshman (15:14.90)

JMU RUNNERS

Place	Runner	Time
4	Erica Jackson	14:48.11
10	Erin Saunders	15:07.73
11	Averi Witt	15:12.76
12	Jodi Tolarchyk	15:14.90
13	Kayla Connelly	15:19.17
14	Madelynn Knight	15:19
23	Lanie Jo Knight	16:28.94
24	Grace Edison	16:49.39

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
Coach Rinker: "The objective was to see how we're going to race and from that standpoint we followed that well. We put ourselves in good position early, we faltered in the middle, but we came back and finished strong. We are learning about each other and by October we can be pretty good."

UP NEXT:
The Dukes host the JMU Invitational on Saturday, September 8 at New Market Battlefield at 10 a.m.

"We're not going to change our focus on training for the home meet," Rinker said. "In cross country, nothing really matters until October/November. Whether it's races or training we are more focused on the process than the outcome."