University of Tampa Harriers Dominate at Season-Opening Meet
The University of Tampa men’s and women’s cross country teams opened the 2018 season in dominating fashion by sweeping both the individual and team titles Friday evening (8/31) at the VSU Border Clash at Freedom Park in Valdosta, GA.
The Spartan women opened the meet by taking five of the top seven spots in the 5K race and were led by sophomore Zoe Jarvis who bested her time from last year’s race by 12 seconds finishing in 18:47.0. Jarvis, who finished third at the 2017 meet, earned her first collegiate victory after being the top Spartan runner in six of seven races last season.
Teammate Shannon Sweeney took second with a time of 18:59.0 and the Spartans rounded out the scoring with a fifth place finish by Julia Lockridge (19:40.5), a sixth place finish by Lexi Bible (19:41.4), and a seventh place finish by Monika Brill (19:43.3), for a total of 21 points and a commanding team victory over second place Flagler College (46 points) and five other schools.
Finishing just out of the Spartan top-five were freshman Cassie Highsmith (8th, 19:50.1) and sophomore Brieanna Rekow (9th, 19:56.02), giving the University of Tampa women a total of seven top-ten finishers while perhaps showcasing the depth of this season’s squad.
In the men’s race, sophomore Trevor Kattenberg averaged 5:17.4 per-mile over the 7.25K course and bested teammate Tyler Roberts by five seconds to take the individual title with a time of 23:50.1. Like Jarvis, it was his first collegiate victory and was a marked improvement over his ninth place finish at last year’s meet.
Also scoring were Joe Weber (4th, 24:07.9), Michael Wilson (7th, 24:38.7) and Devon Sullivan (13th, 25:05.6) for a total of 27 points, more than good enough for another team victory for the Spartans. Flagler College finished second with 41 points, while host Valdosta State took third with 80.
Both University of Tampa cross country teams are expected to fare well this season in the Sunshine State Conference. In a preseason poll of coaches, the men’s team was ranked fourth, while the women ranked third just a point shy of second place Saint Leo. The 2018 Sunshine State Conference Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Championships will take place on November 3rd in Daytona Beach.
The Spartan harriers will next line up at the Florida Tech Invitational next Saturday (9/8) at Wickham Park in Melbourne, FL.
