Johnson Claims Cavalier Open Title for First Career Win

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Redshirt freshman Brett Johnson won his first career cross country race Friday afternoon, leading three Cavaliers across the finish line within 30 seconds of each other to win the 10th annual Cavalier Open at Panorama Farms.

Johnson used a strong finish to complete the course in 24:58.76, while redshirt senior Andrew Mearns finished second in 25:03.61. Redshirt freshman Taylor Gilland finished third for the Cavaliers, earning a time of 25:26.10. Redshirt freshman David Wilson also competed for Virginia, taking eighth in 25:46.11, while transfer junior Patrick Todd was 15th in 26:22.57.

On the women’s side, freshman Kathleen Stevens – running unattached for the Cavaliers – won the 5K race in 18:26.28. Junior Chelsea France was the first Virginia competitor to cross, finishing third in 19:04.71, while redshirt freshman Colette Gnade followed her across the line, taking fourth with a time of 19:14.75. Redshirt freshman Natalia Kuhn was ninth in 20:06.72, while Vanessa Fabrizio took 13th in 20:14.34. Junior Jenni Weatherly rounded out Virginia’s competitors, finishing in 20:46.73, good for 22nd-place.

Virginia will return to action next week, heading to Louisville, Ky., for the 2010 NCAA Southeast Region Championships.