NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Gardner-Webb University cross country teams competed in the 2024 Big South Championships on Friday morning at Charleston Southern University, with a new Gardner-Webb record mixed in with a pair of team eighth place finishes

In the women's 5k, junior Jessica Perriello shined for the Runnin' Bulldogs, finishing 11th place overall with a time of 17:57. In the process, Perriello becomes the first Gardner-Webb women's cross country runner to receive an All-Big South award, taking her place on the second team with the second fastest time in the event in school history. In addition, Perriello also saw her named called on the Big South All-Academic team as well.

Continuing with results in the women's 5k, freshman Megan Devanny placed 40th overall in her first Big South Championship meet with a time of 19:11, freshman Emily Leatherman was just behind with a time of 19:16, followed by fellow freshman Brooke Hope at 19:45, graduate Jennifer Escalera with a 19:47 and senior Teryn Bour with a time of 21:10. Escalera finishes the day as one of the standouts for GWU, besting her previous top time by 12 seconds.

In the men's 8k, sophomore Nathan Cremin paced the Runnin' Bulldogs with a 45th place overall finish and a time of 26:56, a second 20 improvement on his previous top mark. Following for Gardner-Webb include senior Ryan Mortia in 27:08, sophomore Kaden Platt in 27:38 who also beat his personal record by nearly a full minute, freshman Michael Fletcher in 28:00 flat (17 second PR), freshman Gabe Morrison in 28:34 (52 second PR), senior Mark Mellon (26 second PR) in 28:36 and sophomore Austin DeGeorge in 30:01. For GWU, Mellon joins Perriello on the Big South All-Academic team.

Gardner-Webb XC now prepares for the 2024 NCAA Southeast Regionals, scheduled for November 15th in Rock Hill, S.C.

Full Results - 2024 Big South Cross Country Championship