Cross country team underperforms but succeeds individually

The men's and women's cross country season ended with the NCAA Southeast Regional in Charlotte, N.C., where the women's team finished 13th out of 37 teams, and the men's team finished in 21st place out of 34 teams.

The women's team didn't do as well as it wanted to in the regional meet, junior Jillian Prentice said. The team wanted to be top eight, but finished 13th in the 6k, she said.

Each member did well, she said. Prentice placed 16th in the NCAA Regional with Richmond's top time for the women's 6k race of 21:01:28. Last year, she finished 26th.

"Team morale is there," Prentice said. "What we need to focus on is putting what we do in practice into an actual race."

Senior Chris York earned Richmond's top time for the men's 10k race at 31:35:86.

"As a team, we didn't do as well as we would have liked," York said. "It's difficult, since it's a team scoring event; everyone has to have a good race together."

During the season, everyone ran well, but on different days, he said. Separately, everyone had good races, but the team didn't do as well as it wanted to, particularly in the post-season, he said.

Next season, the team wants to win the conference championship, he said. The men's team won two years ago.

"It's all about performing on the day of the race," York said.

Prentice's goal since coming to college is to make it to the NCAA National Championship, by herself or as part of the team. Women's cross country has not gone as a team yet, she said.

Next season, the women's team wants to improve its unity, she said.

"A lot of times during races, we got separated and weren't quite where we needed to be as a team," she said. "Next season, we'll focus on the team as a whole."

Contact staff writer Brooke Knetzger at brooke.knetzger@richmond.edu