UT Enjoys Solid Performances at Early Bird Classic
DOVER, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's and women's cross country teams competed at the annual UT Early Bird Classic at Dover Trails with the Spartan women winning the Division II race as the men were second.
The University of South Florida won both the men's and women's Division I races as the Bulls also finished firtst overall in the women's 5K. Nova Southeastern University captured the men's 4-mile championship while also taking the top Division II award.
USF's Catherine Blaney was the women's individual champion, finishing in a time of 18:31.80, which was nearly 15 seconds faster than second place finisher and teammate Kelli Williams.
Tampa's Chantalle Blundell led UT with a fourth-place finish and time of 19:25.20. Teammate Danielle Kissel was fifth with a time of 19:35.00. Claudia Cancello made it three Spartans in the top-10 as the sophomore was eighth overall after being clocked at 19:57.50.
Tampa placed seven runners in the top-20, as Aislinn Sroczynski (14th, 20:25.40), Brianna Jackson (17th, 20:39.00), Kayla Sullivan (18th, 20:41.60) and Mary Alice Smooth (19th, 20:47.00) joined Blundell, Kissel and Cancello.
South Florida's Michael Babinec wom the men's race as he was clocked at 20:52.20. Sophomore Lars Benner was the fastest Spartan as his 11th-place effort was timed at 21:57.50. Tyler Blackburn was 15th at 22:04.30 as Brendan McGonagle (18th, 22:07.60), Antony Cruz (19th, 22:08.50) and Mitch Arnold (20th, 22:09.00) made it five Spartans in the top-20.
Tampa returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Mountain Dew Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. The University of Florida will serve as the host.
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