Virginia Beach, Va. (8-30-08) – Guilford’s cross country teams opened the 2008 season at the Blue Marlin Invitational Saturday. The women’s team finished ninth among 10 scoring squads with 248 points. Washington and Lee University took the team title by placing four runners among the top-six in the 88-runner field. The Generals’ Jessica Shaw won the six-kilometer race with a time of 22:17.
Guilford’s men also placed ninth among 10 scoring teams with 226 points. Invitational host Virginia Wesleyan College won the team title with 39 points. Bridgewater College’s Brandon Spalding outkicked the rest of the 80-runner field, completing the eight-kilometer course in 27:19. Tyler Brown had Guilford’s best finish with a 37th-place showing in 31:29.
Both Guilford teams compete in the Washington and Lee Invitational next Saturday (9/6) in Lexington, Va.
Blue Marlin Invitational
Virginia Beach, Va.
Women’s Race – 6 kilometers
Team Standings: Washington and Lee 18, Lynchburg 82, Norfolk State 88, Roanoke 89, Virginia Wesleyan 114, Christopher Newport 134, Bridgewater 205, Guilford 248, Marymount 253.
Top Individuals: 1. Jessica Shaw (Washington and Lee) 22:17, Webb Elizabeth (Washington and Lee) 22:37, Jennifer Chichester (Norfolk State) 22:56.
Guilford Results: 37. Grace Normann 27:22, 48. Linnea Saby 29:28, 51. Daryn Lane 30:29, 55. Dana Small 32:32, 57. Ariel Lang 33:08, 58. Meg Holden 33:36.
Men’s Race – 8 kilometers
Team Standings: Virginia Wesleyan 39, Lynchburg 64, Roanoke 69, Bridgewater 105, Christopher Newport 142, Goldey-Beacom 176, Marymount 199, Eastern Mennonite 222, Guilford 226, Hampden-Sydney 228.
Top Individuals: Brandon Spalding (Bridgewater) 27:19, Robert Aaron (Va. Wesleyan) 27:49, Benard Korniko (Marymount) 27:50.
Guilford Results: 37. Tyler Brown 31:29, 41. max Karaffa 31:36, 45. Chris Walker 32:53, 51. Leon Odell 34:34, 52. Chad Currin 34:37.