Tampa Caps Magical Season at NCAA Championships
SPOKANE, Wash. - The University of Tampa men's and women's cross country teams ran to a pair of top-25 finishes at the 2011 NCAA Division II Championships, with the Spartan women placing 16th and the men 24th.
Heather Nicolosi was the top performer for the Tampa women, with the senior gaining All-American status with a 24th place finish. The Seminole, Fla., native followed up her NCAA South Region championship with a time of 22:07 in the 6K race.
Also running for head coach Jarrett Slaven's women were Jess Butler (69th, 23:21.8), Kaia Hampton (109th, 24:05.2), Kelly Hagan (112th, 24:08.2), Katie O'Brien (115th, 24:11.8), Lindsay Edwards (119th, 24:17.2) and Rose Bishop (150th, 25:30.9).
The Spartan men were led by Lewis Price, who finished 125th overall in the 10K after clocking a time of 34:20.4. Other Spartans competing were Charles Toledo (134th, 34:39.1), Michael Zwijacz (146th, 35:02.0), Peter Orgass (147th, 35:06.5), Tory Webb (150th, 35:15.1), Eddie Paniccia (156th, 35:40.7) and Chris Rego (160th, 35:51.6).
Tampa concludes a season where both teams captured the Sunshine State Conference Championship, including the first in men's history. The Spartan women also won its fifth consecutive NCAA South Regional while its men advanced to the second NCAA Championships appearance in program history.