Sept. 22, 2012

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2012PirateInvitationalResults

GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina's cross country programs swept both the men's and women's race at the ECU Pirate Invitational on Friday, Sept. 21, at Lake Kristi. Junior Bjork Olsen won the women's race for Pirates, while senior Antonio Palmer earned the men's victory. The team victory for the two squads was the second of the season. This also marks the fourth consecutive year where ECU has been the victor at the ECU Pirate Invitational.

The women's program accounted for each of the top eight spots in the race with seven of the runners gaining points. Olsen led the pack for the ECU women with her time of 17:44.33 in the 5k event. The individual victory was her first of the season and her time placed her tied for 14th all-time at ECU in a 5k event. An ECU woman has won the Pirate Invitational crown each of the last four seasons with Brittany Copeland earning the win the previous three years.

Other top finishers in the race include redshirt junior Stacey Gonzalez (2nd - 17:49.98), junior Chelsea Hollingsworth (3rd - 18:07.63), senior Brooke Kott (4th - unattached - 18:13.37), freshman Shewit Weldense (5th - 18:21.51), redshirt sophomore Stefanie Fresenius (6th - 18:34.77), redshirt sophomore Olivia Slate (7th - 18:45.34), junior Kaylee Bythell (8th - 18:58.41),  freshman Jessica Rossabi (10th - 19:21.14), junior Amanda Tomlin (12th - 19:46.35), redshirt sophomore Michelle Bailey (13th - 19:48.75), junior Kelley Miko (14th - 20:19.01) and freshman Rachel Rice (16th - 20:46.63).     

Palmer was the top finisher for the men and won his second individual title of the season with his time of 15:40.49. His time also ranks him 12th in the record books at ECU in a 5k event. His first individual victory of the season came at the Seahawk Invitational on Sept. 7.

The men's team had nine of the top 12 times in the home race including each of the top six spots. The other top finishers for the men's program include redshirt sophomore Chase Miller (2nd - 15:43.44), redshirt junior Cory Hampshire (3rd - 15:50.46), Jakub Trzasalski (4th - 15:56.74), redshirt freshman Brather Cline (5th - 15:59.95), freshman John Young (6th - 16:06.72), sophomore Tevin Richardson (9th -16:52.23), freshman Dylan Traywick (10th - 17:02.92) and sophomore Adam Morrow (12th -17:15.39).

The Pirates get back on the course next weekend and travel to Charlotte to participate in the Charlotte Cross Country Invitational on Friday, Sept. 28, starting at 3 p.m.

Women's Race
1. ECU - 15pts. 2. Saint Augustine's - 56 pts. 3. North Carolina Central - 74 pts. 4. Shaw - 113 pts.

Men's Race
1. ECU - 15 pts. 2. Saint Augustine's - 54 pts. 3. Shaw - 75 pts. 4. North Carolina Central - 100 pts.