GREENVILLE, S.C. — Freshman Cozette Collin placed fifth overall to lead the High Point University women’s cross country team to a fifth-place finish in the Furman University Classic on Saturday morning in Greenville, S.C. Sophomore Katie Farina was the Panthers’ second finisher in 14th.
“This was a good team effort and a good confidence booster for us,” said HPU women’s cross country coach Jenna Wrieden. “Cozette is running very well right now and showing that she’s someone who can con contend for a conference title. Katie Farina ran well again. I’m happy we got this result as we enter a month of heavy training to get ready for the championship season.”
Collin finished the 6K course in 21:22.33, moving up throughout the race and coming from behind down the final stretch to pass Georgia Tech’s Katie Townsend, who finished in 21:23.84. Collin has led the Panthers in each of her first two collegiate races.
Farina placed 14th in a time of 21:51.01. In her only 6K race last year, she ran a time of 24:01.8, an improvement over two minutes.
Senior Audrey Malloy placed 35th with a time of 22:16.54 and junior Lauren Blackwell placed 36th in 22:23.74. Blackwell edged the College of Charleston’s Carlee Cassidy at the finish. The Panthers’ fifth scorer was junior Sarah Dorrell, who placed 40th with a time of 22:27.55.
Three Panthers finished in a row from 45th through 47th led by Julia Zautcke, who ran a time of 22:37.76. Senior Kayleigh Perry finished in 22:38.21 and freshman Natalia Ocasio finished in 22:38.45. Sophomore Erika Peoples placed 64th and junior Krista Willard placed 71st.
Furman won the team title followed by Clemson, Georgia and Georgia Tech. High Point placed fifth out of 23 teams and the Panthers were followed by Georgia State.
High Point’s three-weekend stretch of racing continues with the VMI Invitational on Sept. 21 in Buena Vista, Va., followed by the Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational on Sept. 28. The VMI Invitational is a preview of the Big South Championship, which will be held on the same course on Nov. 2.