Cross Country Hosts ECU Pirate Invitational Friday At Lake Kristi
September 22, 2016 | Cross Country
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina men's and women's cross country teams look to defend their home turf Friday evening when they entertain Norfolk State and Wake Tech for the ECU Pirate Invitational at Lake Kristi in nearby Grimesland, N.C. The women's race is scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start with the men running approximately 30 minutes after.
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"We are very excited to host our home meet this weekend," Director of Men's and Women's Track and Field and Cross Country Curt Kraft said. "This meet is always a great time for parents of our student-athletes as well as our home fans to come out and cheer on our teams. This also gives us a great opportunity for the rest of our student-athletes on our track and field teams to cheer on their teammates as well. The goal for this weekend's meet, as always, is to continue to improve where we are at this point in the season."
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In their most recent outing, the men and women made the short trip to Cary for the adidas Challenge. The women took fifth and the men eighth in a meet featuring a number of North Carolina schools. The women placed in front of a Virginia side that was ranked 14th nationally at the time.
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Sophomores Nick Ciaccia and Grace Sullivan have finished as the top runners in the first two meets of the campaign on each side. Ciaccia ran a 6K time of 19:07 to place 44th in Cary while Sullivan ended up 12th with a personal-best 5K time of 17:52.
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In last year's Pirate Invitational, the women edged out fellow American Athletic Conference member USF by three points. The men took second and were six points behind the Bulls. The women have won every team title in the event since 2009.
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Following its home meet, East Carolina will travel to Bethlehem, Pa. Oct. 1 for the Paul Short Invitational hosted by Lehigh University.
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"We are very excited to host our home meet this weekend," Director of Men's and Women's Track and Field and Cross Country Curt Kraft said. "This meet is always a great time for parents of our student-athletes as well as our home fans to come out and cheer on our teams. This also gives us a great opportunity for the rest of our student-athletes on our track and field teams to cheer on their teammates as well. The goal for this weekend's meet, as always, is to continue to improve where we are at this point in the season."
Â
In their most recent outing, the men and women made the short trip to Cary for the adidas Challenge. The women took fifth and the men eighth in a meet featuring a number of North Carolina schools. The women placed in front of a Virginia side that was ranked 14th nationally at the time.
Â
Sophomores Nick Ciaccia and Grace Sullivan have finished as the top runners in the first two meets of the campaign on each side. Ciaccia ran a 6K time of 19:07 to place 44th in Cary while Sullivan ended up 12th with a personal-best 5K time of 17:52.
Â
In last year's Pirate Invitational, the women edged out fellow American Athletic Conference member USF by three points. The men took second and were six points behind the Bulls. The women have won every team title in the event since 2009.
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Following its home meet, East Carolina will travel to Bethlehem, Pa. Oct. 1 for the Paul Short Invitational hosted by Lehigh University.
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Monday, September 14
Saturday, September 12
Thursday, September 10
Monday, September 07
