Virginia Women Win NCAA Southeast Regional Championship
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Nov. 13, 2015
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.-The No. 6 Virginia women’s cross country team captured the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship Friday afternoon (Nov. 13) at Panorama Farms in Earlysville, Va.
The Cavaliers finished first with a score of 53 points, ahead of No. 8 NC State, who had 74 points. No. 28 North Carolina (100), No. 22 William & Mary (187) and Eastern Kentucky (241) rounded out the top five.
By way of finishing as one of the top-two squads in the regional championships, the Cavaliers have automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships next Saturday (Nov. 21) in Louisville, Ky.
It is the third-consecutive year and seventh time in eight years the Cavaliers have automatically qualified for the national meet. It is Virginia’s fifth regional championship title and second in a row in regionals contested at Panorama Farms (2013).
Junior Cleo Boyd (Kingston, Ontario) led the Cavaliers across the line in seventh place overall in a time of 20:51.2. Graduate student Sarah Astin (Isle of Man, Great Britain), freshman Emily Mulhern (Ijamsville, Md.) and sophomore Megan Rebholz (Stafford, Va.) finished 11th, 12th and 13th, respectively, while graduate student Iona Lake (Norwich, England) closed the scoring five in 15th place overall. All five Cavalier scorers earned All-Southeast Region honors.
“The group rebounded and refocused after the ACC Championship and had a business-like mentality today,” UVA women’s cross country coach Todd Morgan said. “I feel really great about this group and the momentum we will carry into Louisville next week.”
“It is a special group,” UVA director of track and field/cross country Bryan Fetzer said. ” Each week they do not lose their focus and continue to look at what they need to accomplish that week. They wanted to make sure that their ACC performance was not a fluke and they certainly did that. It is unbelievable how well they listen to race strategy and stay focused. Next week is a clean slate and we’ll be ready to go.”