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 Junior Stephen Hammond Places First in Western Carolina Open |
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Aug. 29, 2008
Cullowhee, N.C. - The 2008 men's and women's cross country teams both opened up their seasons with victories in the Western Carolina Open Friday Evening. Junior Lindsey Groce and Junior Stephen Hammond both took first place honors in their respective divisions.
After the two-mile run through the on-campus course, the WCU women's cross country team swept the top four places with Groce placing first.
"I wanted to see how close we could finish as a group and we got four together so I was very proud of their efforts, said head coach Danny Williamson."
Groce led the Catamounts with an 11:56.96 final time followed by sophomore Jordan Gaddy (11:59.43), then in third senior Megan Isaacs (12:06.67), followed by junior Danielle Shaurette (12:29.32).
The Catamounts finished in first place (18 Points), follwed by Gardner-Webb (52), UNC Asheville (82), King College (95), Newberry College (150) and Warren Wilson College (162).
The men's team was in a tight battle until the end, just edging out rival UNC Asheville with a score of 34-37. Junior Stephen Hammond led the way with a first place finish time of 15:50.90 with freshman Josey Weaver right behind him in second with a time of 16:21.43. Sophomore Drew Tucker (16:48.92) came in with a solid eighth place finish with junior Jake Clawson (16:57.07) finishing in 12th to round out the top four for the Catamounts. Western was without one of its leaders, sophomore Stephen Roach, who had come down with the flu and was not able to participate.
"I just wanted a chance to win the race and we did what we needed to do," said Williamson. "We knew we were going to be a man down after Stephen (Roach) couldn't race so the team stepped it up and a win is a win."
The men's team finished with 34 points in first, followed by UNC Asheville (37), then King College (64), Gardner Webb (101), Newberry College (138) and Warren Wilson College (149).
Western returns to action in three weeks, hosting for consecutive weeks with the Catamount Classic on Saturday Sept. 20 in Cullowhee.
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