KISSIMMEE, Fla. – For the third time this season the Cleveland State cross country team captured a top-two team finish, as the Vikings earned a second place title at the Disney Cross Country Classic Saturday morning.
DISNEY CROSS COUNTRY CLASSIC PHOTOS
"This was a great race for us today, the humidity was very high when we started, but everyone pushed through and focused on the course to bring home a second place finish," head coach Joe Jaketic said. "We have been doing some very hard workouts during practice the last few weeks, and because of how hard they are working during practice they are seeing the results on the course. I'm so proud of our team and individual finishes today, and am so excited to see our improvement week after week."
The duo of Karen Barrientos and Anna Brandt were once again Cleveland State's top-two finishers, both placing in the top-10 overall. Barrientos led the Vikings with a fifth place overall finish, recording a time of 18:37, while Brandt finished seventh overall in a time of 18:44. Both times rank in the top-10 on the CSU Top Performances List, while it also marks the third time that both of them have recorded 18-minute 5K times this season.
The Vikings also had three other runners record top-50 finishes Saturday morning, with Jessica Finley placing 17th (19:16), Olivia Hammons placing 33rd (19:38) and Samantha Butterbaugh placing 49th (19:58).
Samantha Meyer was the next Viking to cross the finish line, recording a personal-best 5K time of 20:20, while Kylie Scott finished close behind her in a time of 20:30. The next two Vikings to cross the finish line were Deanna Swinerton (21:29) and Abbey Rojeck (21:33), while Calah Bishop also posted a personal-best on the course with a time of 21:37.
Emily Marshall (21:44), Anna Beasley (22:59) and Bridget Smik (23:09) also competed for the Vikings.
Cleveland State will now have one final tune-up before the Horizon League Championship, participating in the Jenna Strong Fall Classic on Friday, October 13 in Wilmington, Ohio.
Disney Cross Country Classic Results
5. Karen Barrientos, 18:37
7. Anna Brandt, 18:44
17. Jessica Finley, 19:16
33. Olivia Hammons, 19:38
49. Samantha Butterbaugh, 19:58
61. Samantha Meyer, 20:20
66. Kylie Scott, 20:30
104. Deanna Swinerton, 21:29
109. Abbey Rojeck, 21:33
113. Calah Bishop, 21:37
118. Emily Marshall, 21:44
157. Anna Beasley, 22:59
166. Bridget Smik, 23:09