East Carolina University
Campbell Invitational
Cross Country Opens Season Strong
September 04, 2009 | Cross Country
Sept. 4, 2009
BUIES CREEK, N.C. - The East Carolina men's cross country team placed five runners in the top 10 at the Campbell Invitational to secure the championship Friday evening. The women's squad fared nearly as well, coming in second. The first-place finish for the men marked their first team title since the 2004 North Carolina Collegiate Championship.
The men's portion of the Invitational was scored in a traditional format as the top five runners determined ECU's team score. The Pirates defeated Campbell, UNC Wilmington and North Carolina A&T to claim the meet title.
Leading the way for the men was redshirt sophomore Antoine Berlin, who finished in third-place overall, with a time of 12:34.2 in the 4K. Freshman Dillon Hawley checked in second on the squad, and fourth overall, at 12:36.1. Another freshman, Cory Hampshire, came in third for ECU and sixth overall, timing out at 12:47.8. The Pirates' other two runners to finish in the overall top-10 were senior Jarrett Newby (8th/12:52.2) and sophomore Zack Montijo (9th/12:56.9).
Freshman Brian Quintrell, who finished in 13:08.2, narrowly missed out on a top-10 overall finish, coming in 11th. Freshman Grant Burress (16th/13:26.7), freshman Matthew Poiesz (17th/13:27.4) and freshman Antonio Palmer (23rd/14:40.9) rounded out the ECU performances.
On the women's side, the Pirates defeated Campbell and North Carolina A&T, but fell to UNC Wilmington. For the Invitational, the women raced in teams of two with each running a 1,200-meter loop four times for a total of 4,800 meters apiece. The women's overall team scores were determined by each schools top three duos with the total fastest time.
The sophomore pair of Tara Wilson and Amanda Lapp finished first for ECU, and second overall, with a time of 36:21.9. Coming in just behind was senior Samantha Lichtner and freshman Brooke Kott, who came in third overall at 36:30.5. Junior Lisa DeLorenzo and freshman Stacey Gonzalez were the last pair to finish in the top 10 for the Pirates, as they clocked in at 38:18.6.
Freshmen Britney Kott and Laura Gundry teamed up to finish in 12th overall with a time of 38:43.8. The final ECU duo to run was freshman Kirstin Anderson and sophomore Andrea Barletta, who finished in 13th at 38:48.5.
The Pirates have a week off before running next Friday, Sept. 11, at the Seahawk Invitational in Wilmington, N.C.
