Gardner-Webb University
Winthrop Invitational
Gardner-Webb Opens Season Strong at Winthrop Early Season Challenge
September 04, 2015 | Cross Country
ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The Gardner-Webb women's cross country team placed four runners in the top 20, and Christopher Lile (Waynesville, N.C.) placed 20th to pace the men's side at the Winthrop Early Season Challenge on Friday evening.
The women's team placed third with 74 points, while the men finished the evening fourth with 95 points in the team competition. Claire Cates (Hillsborough, N.C.) turned in the top finish for the women, placing ninth with a time of 15:17.3 in the 4,000-kilometer race, while Gabrielle Cortese (Franklin Springs, Ga.) and Jenna Ford (Wasilla, Alaska) placed 12th and 14th with times of 15:40.1 and 15:49.2, respectively.
Freshman Lauren Kilpatrick (Jacksonville, Fla.) placed 26th in her collegiate debut with a time of 16:58, as Michaela Williams (Nashville, N.C.) finished 28th with a time of 17:43.7. Rachel White rounded out the pack for Gardner-Webb in 31st with a time of 17:55.3.
Lile led the way for the men's team with a time of 20:23.98, placing 20th, as Joshua Valdez (Haw River, N.C.) finished 28th with a time of 21:10.32. Josh Parks (Forest City, N.C.) and Keaton Poole (Spindale, N.C.) finished 31st and 32nd, respectively, while Marcquel Woodard (Gainesville, Ga.) and Matthew Cook (Connelly Springs, N.C.) placed 35th and 37th. James Haynes (Charlotte, N.C.) placed 39th to round out the day for Gardner-Webb.
Gardner-Webb is back in action on Friday, September 18 at the Wolf Pack Invitational in Cary, N.C.
