ELON, N.C. – The Elon University men’s and women’s cross country programs swept the competition at its home meet, the Elon Invitational, on Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Elon Cross Country Course.
Senior Jenny Gallagher won the women’s 5K race after setting a new personal-record with a time of 17:55. It was also the first time an Elon female runner took first in a race since 2011. The Phoenix women took the top seven spots of the race, easily defeating second-place Lenior Rhyne by a margin of 15-56.
On the men’s side, senior Luis Vargas took individualist honors with his time of 25:19 in the 8K run and helped Elon capture its third straight Elon Invitational title. The Phoenix men had the top four finishers in the race and five of the top seven with second-place North Carolina A&T also having two runners in the top seven.
Gallagher’s new personal-best is now sixth-fastest time in school history as she beat out teammate Elyse Bierut for individualist honors. Bierut crossed the line with her time of 17:58 followed by Tereza Novotna, who was third at 18:07. Kimberly Johansen also had a time of 18:07 in the race, but was marked fourth while Kaitlin Snapp (18:19), Emily Dunne (18:26) and Shelby Cuddeback (18:27) rounded out the fifth, sixth and seventh positions, respectively.
Joining Vargas in the top-four in the men’s race from Elon was Ari Rothschild, who was second overall with his time of 26:16. Another senior, Adam Bernstein, placed third overall with his time of 26:57, while freshman Sam Geha was fourth at 27:12. Reed Payne joined the group in the top seven with a time of 27:27.
Elon returns to the course on Sept. 19, to compete at the Adidas Cross Country Challenge, hosted by NC State in Cary, N.C.