Brennan, Ciolkowski Lead Elon Phoenix at NCAA Cross Country Pre-Nationals

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Facing its toughest competition of the season, the Elon University cross country programs closed out it regular season schedule after competing at the 2017 NCAA Pre-Nationals on Saturday morning, Oct. 14, at the E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park.

RESULTS

Nick Ciolkowski clocked a time of 24:39.3 in the men’s “black” 8K race while making his 2017 season-debut. The two-time defending Colonial Athletic Association individual cross country champion earned a top-15 standing among the 215 competitors in the race.

Brigid Brennan once again led the Phoenix females as the Northport, N.Y., native had a time of 21:36.1 in the women’s 6K “black” run. She would finish 22nd overall in the race among 259 runners. Junior Coralea Geraniotis was the next Elon runner to cross the line with her time of 22:02.1 in 48th overall while Melissa Anastasakis came across the finish line with a time of 22:37.4. Corey Weiss (22:47.2) and Chelsea Smith (22:57.6) rounded out the top-five scores for Elon.

The two final Phoenix women to complete the 6K race in Louisville were rookies Bridget Kanaley (24:18.6) and Rachael Wesolowski (24:48.7). The Elon women finished 14th overall on the day with 358 points as Nevada took the team title with 62 points over runner-up BYU, who had 96. The Phoenix finished ahead of other notable schools such as Ole Miss (368), Delaware (451), Liberty (476) and Pittsburgh (609).

The maroon and gold cross country programs will shift their focus to the 2017 CAA Cross Country Championships, held on at the Phoenix’s home cross country course on the campus of Elon. The meet will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28, with the women’s 6K beginning at 10 a.m. and the men’s 8K race following at 11 a.m.