East Carolina University
Seahawk Invitational
Cross Country Takes Second At Seahawk Invitational
September 12, 2009 | Cross Country
Sept. 12, 2009
Men's Seahawk Invitational Results
Women's Seahawk Invitational Results
WILMINGTON, N.C. - The East Carolina men's and women's cross country teams both took second-place out of six squads at the 20th running of the Seahawk Invitational Friday evening. Freshman Dillon Hawley and senior Samantha Lichtner led their respective units as the men and women both placed three runners in the top 10. UNC Wilmington won the men's and women's team titles at its home event.
"I was really impressed with the level of performance by both squads," head coach Dan Lee said. "The men and the women are well beyond where we were at this time last year."
For the men, Hawley finished fourth overall with a time of 15:19.24 in the 5K. Classmate Cory Hampshire took sixth overall with a time of 15:35.27. Rounding out the top-10 finishes for the Pirates was redshirt sophomore Antoine Berlin, who clocked in at 15:45.16.
Sophomore Zack Montijo (12th/15:52.87), freshman Grant Burress (13th/15:53.98) and senior Jarrett Newby (15th/15.59.58) represented the next group of ECU runners with their top-15 performances.
In the past two years, Montijo has been the only East Carolina runner to finish a 5K in under 16:20. Friday, the Pirates had their top six performers all finish in under 16:00.
Freshman Brian Quintrell (18th/16:08.60), freshman Matthew Poiesz (23rd/16:30.70), sophomore Edrian Murray (25th/16:41.11) and freshman Antonio Palmer (26th/16:42.24) completed the ECU runners in the field.
The times for Burress, Hampshire, Hawley, Murray, Newby and Poiesz were all personal bests.
On the women's side, Lichtner's time of 18:30.71 in the 5K placed her fourth overall. Sophomore Amanda Lapp finished right behind Lichtner in fifth with a time of 18:34.26. The pair set personal-best times during the meet as Lichtner shaved nearly 30 seconds off her previous top time.
"Our top three women were held out this meet so I was very impressed with the team's second place performance," Lee said.
Freshman Brooke Kott was the final Pirate in the top 10, as she checked in ninth with a time of 18:52.62.
Despite holding out its top three women, the Pirates were still able to have three runners finish the 5K in less than 19 minutes. Last year, ECU had only had two women finish a 5K in under 19 minutes.
Junior Jessica Foley finished 14th overall and fourth for ECU with a time of 19:11.23. Freshman Stacey Gonzalez took 15th as she finished in 19:13.27. The times for Foley and Gonzalez were personal-best marks in the 5K.
A pair of freshmen in Kirstin Anderson (23rd/19:41.02) and Laura Gundry (24th/19:50.73) wrapped up the Pirate runners who finished in the top 25.
Rounding out the East Carolina women's runners were sophomore Andrea Barletta (26th/20:06.64), junior Lisa DeLorenzo (31st/20:37.76) and freshman Britney Kott (32nd/20:43.20).
"This year's team is young, and that showed in the results," Lee said. "Even though we had a number of personal bests, we had too many runners finishing with too much of a kick. The athletes need to respond in the race better to fight for spots."
The Pirates return to action next Saturday, Sept. 19, for their only home meet of the season, the ECU Pirate Invitational, at Lake Kristi. The men's race is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. with the women beginning at 8:45.
