Troy University Athletics
Saturday, October 31
Mobile, Ala.
Troy University
vs
Sun Belt Championship
Cross Country Makes History at Sun Belt Championships
10/31/2020 1:32:00 PM | Cross Country
MOBILE, Ala. – The Troy women's cross country program placed fourth in route to their best Sun Belt Conference finish in program history while the men finished eighth Saturday morning at 2020 Sun Belt Conference Cross Country Championships hosted by South Alabama and the Old Brookley Golf Course.
The women's program-best fourth place finish marked the highest finish in a conference meet since the squad finish third in the 1998 ASUN Championships.
"We work hard so that we can dream big," head coach Elliott Blount said. "Our woman took a shot and dared to be great. I've always been proud of their efforts, and I'm very fortunate to have worked with them this season. We will definitely miss Macki and Kara, they are just wonderful people. Their impact on this program has been pivotal to us making the transition into the top half of this conference. With everyone else returning, we can keep taking shots at the top of the conference."
Senior Macki Walsh led the women for the fourth and final race of the season turning in a sixth-place finish. Her time of 17:38.80 was a 5k personal record and her best conference finish. Walsh's sixth-place finish marked the best individual finish by a Trojan at the Sun Belt Championships and the first time the Trojans have scored a runner inside the top ten at the conference meet since Sylvia Chirchir finished eighth during the 2009 season.
Gracie Booher and Cadi Rowe turned in the second and third best times for the Trojans, finishing 10th and 11th respectively. Booher became the first Troy freshman to land in the top ten at the Sun Belt Championships and was the only freshman to finish within the top ten at the meet. For Rowe, her time of 18:07.70 was also a 5k personal record.
Senior Kara Moore closed out her Troy career in style, setting a 5k personal record in 18:35.60. Her time was good for a 22nd-place finish.
The women tallied 77 points, finishing fourth. Troy placed just six points behind host South Alabama (71). Appalachian State finished second with 47 combined points, while Arkansas State's 44-point output earned the Red Wolves the 2020 women's title.
For the men, sophomore Mason Bennett led the way for the third consecutive race placing 36th in 27:08.30, an 8k personal best. Sage Delfino and Thomas Ward rounded out the top-three finishers for the Trojans placing 39th and 43rd respectively.
The men recorded 212 points for an eighth-place finish, finishing seven spots behind South Alabama who took home the men's team title.
All-Sun Belt awards will be released shortly.
The women's program-best fourth place finish marked the highest finish in a conference meet since the squad finish third in the 1998 ASUN Championships.
"We work hard so that we can dream big," head coach Elliott Blount said. "Our woman took a shot and dared to be great. I've always been proud of their efforts, and I'm very fortunate to have worked with them this season. We will definitely miss Macki and Kara, they are just wonderful people. Their impact on this program has been pivotal to us making the transition into the top half of this conference. With everyone else returning, we can keep taking shots at the top of the conference."
Senior Macki Walsh led the women for the fourth and final race of the season turning in a sixth-place finish. Her time of 17:38.80 was a 5k personal record and her best conference finish. Walsh's sixth-place finish marked the best individual finish by a Trojan at the Sun Belt Championships and the first time the Trojans have scored a runner inside the top ten at the conference meet since Sylvia Chirchir finished eighth during the 2009 season.
Gracie Booher and Cadi Rowe turned in the second and third best times for the Trojans, finishing 10th and 11th respectively. Booher became the first Troy freshman to land in the top ten at the Sun Belt Championships and was the only freshman to finish within the top ten at the meet. For Rowe, her time of 18:07.70 was also a 5k personal record.
Senior Kara Moore closed out her Troy career in style, setting a 5k personal record in 18:35.60. Her time was good for a 22nd-place finish.
The women tallied 77 points, finishing fourth. Troy placed just six points behind host South Alabama (71). Appalachian State finished second with 47 combined points, while Arkansas State's 44-point output earned the Red Wolves the 2020 women's title.
For the men, sophomore Mason Bennett led the way for the third consecutive race placing 36th in 27:08.30, an 8k personal best. Sage Delfino and Thomas Ward rounded out the top-three finishers for the Trojans placing 39th and 43rd respectively.
The men recorded 212 points for an eighth-place finish, finishing seven spots behind South Alabama who took home the men's team title.
"We had the largest alumni turnout for a cross country championship," Blount said. "Our lone senior, Thomas Ward, was on 2018 team that took third at this meet and a few of them were in attendance. Mason Bennett and Sage Delfino are getting more comfortable with being uncomfortable, and it resulted in a couple lifetime personal best. Today was a tough reminder of how everyone has to be 'on' for team success.
All-Sun Belt awards will be released shortly.
Players Mentioned
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/ Cross Country
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