UVa Women Finish Second, Men Finish Fourth at ACC Championships
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Nov. 1, 2013
KERNERSVILLE, N.C. – The Virginia women’s cross country team had its highest finish in three years at the ACC Championships, placing second during Friday’s 6K race at Beeson Park. The Virginia men’s cross country team placed fourth at the meet.
The 10th-ranked Cavalier women had five of the top 25 finishers and seven of the top 30, but couldn’t upset fifth-ranked Florida State, who won its sixth-straight ACC Championship.
Four Cavaliers earned All-ACC honors with top 21 finishes in the women’s race, the most All-ACC selections in school history. Senior Barbara Strehler (Richmond, Va.) was the first Virginia runner across the line, placing fourth in a time of 20:20.8. First-year Maria Hauger (Shakopee, Minn.) was 10th, junior Kathleen Stevens (Blacksburg, Va.) was 12th and first-year Sarah Fakler (Phoenix, Ariz.) was 14th to also earn All-ACC honors. Sophomore Cleo Boyd (Kingston, Ont.) rounded out the Cavalier scoring five in 25th place.
“It is great to see how far this group has come in 365 days from finishing sixth last year to second this year,” said women’s cross country coach Todd Morgan. “We gave a great Florida State team all that we had and tried to keep the pressure on them, but they are the champions for a reason. It was great to see Barbara Strehler complete her ACC cross country career with a stellar finish. I am proud of her, not only for how she has performed this season, but also for how she has led this group.”
The Cavalier men finished fourth in the 8K race. Conference newcomer Syracuse took the title, with North Carolina second and Notre Dame edging Virginia for third.
Virginia had two men’s All-ACC performers. Sophomore Kyle King (Yorktown, Va.) was the team’s top finisher, placing seventh in a time of 24:15.3. Senior Thomas Porter (Fredericksburg, Va.) earned All-ACC honors for the second straight year with a 13th place finish. Junior Drew Paisley (Virginia Beach, Va.), sophomore Zach Herriott (Kansas City, Mo.) and redshirt-freshman Adam Visokay (Ruckersville, Va.) rounded out the scoring five in 28th, 29th and 31st positions, respectively.
“We need to be better,” said men’s cross country coach Pete Watson. “I was honest with the boys and told them we are better than that. Losing to Notre Dame by three points is a tough result. I don’t think we could have caught Syracuse today, they ran fantastic, but we should have been second. Kyle King was very good, Thomas Porter continues to progress, and Zach Herriott and Drew Paisley had good races, but we need some of the other guys to step up. We now have to regroup and get ready for the regional.”
The Virginia cross country teams will return to action in two weeks with the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships. The regional meet will be hosted by Virginia at Panorama Farms in Earlysville, Va., on Nov. 15.
Women’s Top Five Teams
1. Florida State (52)
2. Virginia (65)
3. Syracuse (108)
4. Notre Dame (124)
5. Duke (130)
Virginia Results
4. Barbara Strehler 20:20.8
10. Maria Hauger 20:39.9
12. Kathleen Stevens 20:50.5
14. Sarah Fakler 20:52.8
25. Cleo Boyd 21:16.7
28. Vicky Fouhy 21:28.0
30. Sara Sargent 21:32.9
37. Jen Flack 21:40.7
51. Audrey Batzel 21:53.2
Men’s Top Five Teams
1. Syracuse (64)
2. North Carolina (84)
3. Notre Dame (105)
4. Virginia (108)
5. Virginia Tech (120)
Virginia Results
7. Kyle King 24:15.3
13. Thomas Porter 24:24.2
28. Drew Paisley 24:50.1
29. Zach Herriott 24:50.2
31. Adam Visokay 24:53.1
45. Thomas Madden 25:06.7
56. Mike Marsella 25:22.1
77. Chris Foley 25:52.3
91. Jack St. Marie 26:18.8