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| Courtney Thompson and Tim Gruber interviewing on Spider_TV following the races. Go Spiders! |
This was the 14th year for the Spider Alumni open and the second year we've hosted the USATF-Virginia Cross Country Championships as part of the event. To say I look forward to this meet is really an understatement. No one is likely to understand what it means to both Lori and I to have our alumni back in Richmond, watch our current teams compete for the first time and catch up with old friends and officials. It's something old coaches appreciate and look forward to...even when it is a busy few days leading into and hours surrounding the races. A couple words might be all that are spoken in the hustle of administering the races, but it's exciting to see the former athletes, see them interacting with each other and to hear what they are doing in the world. Lori and I are grateful for the efforts of so many to make it to the meet to support the teams.
What a remarkable transition we've seen in our 14 years here at UR. From an emerging group of young people, who on some levels were unsure of what was around the next corner who grew into confident leaders determined to bring the Richmond Spiders to the next level and now parents themselves, leading the way for their children. Let me say...plane and simple...that's what life is about---Family. How simple, yet awesome the moment was!
The USATF-Virginia Championship race started things off and what a surprise it was to see so many USATF Officials at the course to ensure a championship race experience. Our hats off and many thanks to them for their efforts, not just this weekend but every weekend.
We are already looking forward to next year!
ST
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| A great crowd greeted runners from across Virginia for the USATF-Virginia Cross Country Championships and runners from the University of Richmond, Davidson, George Mason University and Virginia Commonwealth University for the 2015 Spider Alumni Open. |
UR Women Win Alumni Open; Men Finish Second
Courtesy: Richmond Athletics
Release: 09/05/2015
Release: 09/05/2015
MECHANICSVILLE, Va. – The Richmond Women’s Cross Country team finished first in the 2015 Spider Alumni Open at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville, Va. The Spider Men’s Cross Country team came in second in the 14thedition of the race.
The standout performer of the day was sophomoreCourtney Thompson who finished in first place in the two-mile women’s race with a time of 11:09.7. The Richmond women had five of the first seven finishers, with Kaelyn Heinicke finishing in third with a time of 11:22.5 and Marisa Ruskan finishing right behind her in fourth with a time of 11:23.4. The Spiders finished in first place with 21 points.
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| Hot and humid...That's September cross country in Virginia. |
USATF-Virginia
Crowns Cross Country Champions
Murphy, Lautzenheiser win Senior Titles while Watson
and Wood Claim Junior Titles
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| Collegiate Running Association Board Member, Matt Hannay starts checking numbers as runners begin moving to the start line for the 2015 USATF-Virginia Cross Country Championships. |
Mechanicsville, VA - For the second
consecutive year, the USATF-Virginia Association hosted their cross country
championships as part of the Richmond Spider Alumni Open Cross Country Meet on
the Pole Green Park Cross Country Course in Mechanicsville, Virginia.
In the Open
Men’s race Ryan Murphy (Richmond, Va.) and Jason Driscoll (Richmond, Va.)
battled throughout with the outcome undecided until the final stretch. In the
end, Murphy (17:03) claimed the individual title by six seconds over RVA Distance
Project teammate Driscoll (17:09). Robert Flanagan (S. Chesterfield, Va.)
claimed the final podium spot with his bronze medal performance (17:52).
Murphy and
Driscoll were joined by Colson Williams (Richmond, Va./18:09) to complete their
newly formed RVA Distance Project team which claimed the Men’s Open team title.
Their win earned their team $500 towards the USATF National Club Championships
to be held this December in San Francisco, CA.
What was a
close battle for the men’s open title was a runaway on the women’s side. Kathleen
Lautzenheiser (Richmond, Va.) took the lead from the gun and never looked back
as she raced to victory in a time of 18:43. Lautzenheiser claimed the Open
Women’s title over Richmond Track & Field Club teammate Nicole Thomas (Richmond,
Va./20:01). Rounding out the top three was Kate Spangler (Richmond, Va.) who
ran 22:12.
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| Even the dogs were out to cheer on the runners. |
Lautzenheizer
and Thomas were joined by Bobbie Davey (Henrico, Va.) on the Richmond Track
& Field Club’s team. The three scoring positions ensured they captured the Women’s
Open team title and also qualified for the $500 travel stipend for the USATF
National Club Championships to be held in San Francisco this December.
The junior
races had the deepest fields on the day with 40 percent of the event’s
competitors listed as under 20 years of age. Coming into the Junior Men’s
Championships, the favorite was Jacob Watson of King George, Va. As expected, Watson,
who placed 10th in the USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships
last December, claimed his first USATF-Virginia Junior Championship title. Watson
used a fast start to steadily pull away from runner-up Gavin Jenkins (Washington,
Va./17:34) and 3rd place finisher Jonathan Watson (18:25), who is
only 15 years of age and the younger brother of Jacob.
In the
Junior Women’s race it looked to be a battle between Julia Wood (Woodville,
Va.), Khloe Pointer (North Chesterfield, Va.) and Archana
Shekharan (Moseley, Va.), who all entered with strong resumes. Wood and Pointer placed 3rd and
4th respectively, separated by only two seconds, in the 2014 USATF
National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships last December in Myrtle
Beach, S.C. Shekharan placed 32nd and collectively the three led
their Richmond Track & Field Club to a runner-up spot in the national team
championships among 15-16 year olds last December.
On
this morning Julia Wood didn’t want it coming down to the end. Like her male
counterpart she started fast with the open women’s leader and continued to
press during the race. As she came down to the final stretch to the finish line
she held a commanding lead over Khloe Pointer and finished comfortably in first
in a time of 19:00. Pointer finished second in 19:44 followed by Archana Shekharan in 20:06 to round out the
top three podium spots.
In the Women’s Junior Team
Championship it was a sweep for the Richmond Track & Field Club as Wood,
Pointer and Shekharan
claimed the top 3 junior women’s places for a perfect team score.
Overall, the USATF-Virginia Cross Country
Championships were met with high praise by participants and race directors
alike. In its second year at Pole Green Park, the event expanded significantly
both in the amount of participants and in the competitiveness within the age
groups.
“We were really excited to host the USATF
Virginia Championships again this year”, said University of Richmond Head Men’s
Cross Country Coach and Collegiate Running Association Co-Founder Steve Taylor.
“This Pole Green Cross Country Course is one of the best. It is spectator
friendly and as nice of a running surface as I’ve seen. The Hanover County
Parks & Recreation staff do a great job throughout the year in maintaining
this facility.”
“We like watching this event grow and hosting
in conjunction with our annual Spider Alumni Open” said Taylor. “Last year there
were no complete teams and this year three categories were awarded. We are avid
supporters of USATF Virginia and the officials. There were so many USATF
Virginia officials out here today. They were amazing and we want to publicly
thank them for their efforts, not just today but throughout the year.”
The Collegiate Running
Association, a
non-profit organization dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles through
running, once again served as the presenting sponsor for the championships. “The
CRA is happy to be the presenting sponsor of the races today’, said CRA
Co-Founder Jon Molz. “We recognize the importance of being a support
organization not just for our national championships events, but also for our
local communities. As we grow as an organization, Richmond remains our home and
it’s exciting to watch great races and be part of events like this.”
A complete list of the results can be found
below:
2015
USATF-Virginia Cross Country Championships RESULTS
