
Pirates Set for 2024 Pirate Cross Country Invitational
October 03, 2024 | Cross Country
GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina cross country team is set to defend their home turf on Friday as they host the annual Pirate Cross Country Invitational at Overton's Lake Kristi. Featuring a larger than usual field of 23 teams in attendance, the 2024 edition is setting up to be a tremendous meet.
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The day gets underway with the men's 8K race at 9 a.m. before the women get underway for a 6K race at 9:45.
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The meet will take place in its usual home at Overton's Lake Kristi. A venerable host for cross country races, Lake Kristi has played host to many notable races over the year including NCAA Regional Championships and several conference championships, including the 2023 American Athletic Conference Championships.
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Normally a smaller regional race, the 2024 Pirate Invitation will feature an enticing field of 23 teams: American, Campbell, Charleston Southern, College of Charleston, Coastal Carolina, Davidson, East Carolina, Elon, George Mason, George Washington, Hampton, Milligan, Mt. Olive, NC State, Norfolk State, Radford, Richmond, UCF, UNCG, UNCW, VCU, William and Mary, Winthrop.
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Last season at Lake Kristi, it was a victory on the women's side for the Pirates with Alyssa Zach and Hayley Whoolery posting top 10 finishes and Navaya Zales just behind in 12th. On the men's side, it was a fourth-place finish paced by Alex Sawyer in seventh with Colin McCauley and Ted Sielatycki also in the top 25.
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Last Time Out
The Pirate women took eighth and the men finished sixth in the 14-team field at the Adidas XC Challenge on Sept. 20.
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The men's team competed in a 6K race, led by J Henry Lyon with a 18:33.8 result good for 30th place overall. Lyon was followed up by Judah Lacroix making his collegiate debut in 53rd, Alex Sawyer (62nd), Zach Willer (70th) and Elliott Kleckner (71st). Nick Willer and Cooper Kleckner rounded out the ECU lineup in 96th and 109th, respectively.
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On the women's side, Erin Pope led the way for their 5K race in her collegiate debut, finishing 30th in a time of 17:47.6. Kaylee McCullough followed Pope in her Pirate debut in 46th, followed by Hayley Whoolery (52nd), Navaya Zales (80th) and Lily Schlossberg (91st) to round out the scoring. Katrina Ford (100th), Ava Elliott (108th), Bella Wood (114th) and Madelyn Mead (132nd) rounded out the ECU lineup.
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Follow ECU XC/TF on Social Media
For more information on the ECU cross country team follow @ECUTFXC on Twitter and Instagram.
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The day gets underway with the men's 8K race at 9 a.m. before the women get underway for a 6K race at 9:45.
Â
The meet will take place in its usual home at Overton's Lake Kristi. A venerable host for cross country races, Lake Kristi has played host to many notable races over the year including NCAA Regional Championships and several conference championships, including the 2023 American Athletic Conference Championships.
Â
Normally a smaller regional race, the 2024 Pirate Invitation will feature an enticing field of 23 teams: American, Campbell, Charleston Southern, College of Charleston, Coastal Carolina, Davidson, East Carolina, Elon, George Mason, George Washington, Hampton, Milligan, Mt. Olive, NC State, Norfolk State, Radford, Richmond, UCF, UNCG, UNCW, VCU, William and Mary, Winthrop.
Â
Last season at Lake Kristi, it was a victory on the women's side for the Pirates with Alyssa Zach and Hayley Whoolery posting top 10 finishes and Navaya Zales just behind in 12th. On the men's side, it was a fourth-place finish paced by Alex Sawyer in seventh with Colin McCauley and Ted Sielatycki also in the top 25.
Â
Last Time Out
The Pirate women took eighth and the men finished sixth in the 14-team field at the Adidas XC Challenge on Sept. 20.
Â
The men's team competed in a 6K race, led by J Henry Lyon with a 18:33.8 result good for 30th place overall. Lyon was followed up by Judah Lacroix making his collegiate debut in 53rd, Alex Sawyer (62nd), Zach Willer (70th) and Elliott Kleckner (71st). Nick Willer and Cooper Kleckner rounded out the ECU lineup in 96th and 109th, respectively.
Â
On the women's side, Erin Pope led the way for their 5K race in her collegiate debut, finishing 30th in a time of 17:47.6. Kaylee McCullough followed Pope in her Pirate debut in 46th, followed by Hayley Whoolery (52nd), Navaya Zales (80th) and Lily Schlossberg (91st) to round out the scoring. Katrina Ford (100th), Ava Elliott (108th), Bella Wood (114th) and Madelyn Mead (132nd) rounded out the ECU lineup.
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Follow ECU XC/TF on Social Media
For more information on the ECU cross country team follow @ECUTFXC on Twitter and Instagram.
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Players Mentioned
ECU Post-Game Interviews (Sept. 20, 2025)
Sunday, September 21
09/16/25 Inside Pirate Athletics
Tuesday, September 16
ECU Head Football Coach Blake Harrell Weekly Press Conference (Sept. 15, 2025)
Monday, September 15
9/09/25 Inside Pirate Athletics
Tuesday, September 09