Tampa Women’s Cross Country Wins NCAA Regional, Men Finish Second
DOVER, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's and women's cross country teams each earned a bid to the 2011 NCAA Division II Nationals as the women won the NCAA South Regional and the men placed second. Heather Nicolosi also set a new course record with her first-place finish in the women's 6K.
In the women's race, Tampa runners accounted for four of the first eight to cross the finish line as Nicolosi's time of 21:43 was good for her second straight individual championship at the NCAA South Regional.
Jess Butler finished third overall, in a photo-finish with the second place runner as the senior finished with a time of 22:11. Kaia Hampton was fifth at a pace of 22:39 while Lindsay Edwards came in eighth with a time of 22:53. Kelly Hagan sealed the Spartan championship as she crossed 11th at 23:20.
Also part of head coach Jarrett Slaven's championship team were Rose Bishop and Katie O'Brien, who finished 25th and 28th respectively with times just under the 24:00 plateau.
West Florida was the second team to advance to nationals, placing second overall in the women's race.
In the men's race, the University of Alabama in Huntsville had four runners in the top eight to finish with 39 points. The Spartans were a close second with 64 points and earned the right to advance to nationals with the performance.
Charles Toledo was UT's top finisher, placing seventh with a time of 32:40. Peter Orgass was also ninth after crossing in 32:50. Also scoring for Tampa were Chris Rego (12th, 33:03), Lewis Price (4th, 33:22) and Tory Webb (19th, 33:31).
Also running for the Spartan men were Michael Zwijacz and Eddie Paniccia, coming in 24th and 31st respectively.
Florida Tech's Moses Kirui was the individual champion of the men's race, with the Sunshine State Conference Runner of the Year finishing in a time of 32:00.
This marks the ninth consecutive NCAA Nationals appearance for the Spartan women, who were 15th overall in 2010. The UT men will compete for the second time in program history, and first since a 22nd-place showing in 2007.
Tampa will travel to Spokane, Wash., for the NCAA Division II Nationals on Saturday, Nov., 19. Please visit www.tampaspartans.com for complete information.