From Emory University Athletics
The Emory women's cross country team raced to the program's third consecutive NCAA South/Southeast Regional Championship on Saturday. The meet was held at the Clara Bowl Course on the campus of Berry College. The Eagles' first-place effort gained the team an automatic berth to next Saturday's (Nov. 19) NCAA D-III Championships.
Post Meet Interview With Emory Coach John Curtin
The No. 18-ranked Eagles topped the 27-team field with 68 points, well ahead of runner-up Rhodes College who totaled 103 points. Christopher Newport was third with 117 points while Washington and Lee (126 pts.) and Trinity University (127 pts.) rounded out the top five.
Junior Gabrielle Stravach ranked as the team's No. 1 runner for the sixth time in as many outings, as she covered the 6K course in a time of 22:25, good for fourth place overall out of 213 runners. Junior Megan Waples was the second Eagle to cross the finish line with a showing of 23:09, with that time slotting her 14th. Senior Mia Eisenhandler (23:11) and junior Tru Powell (23:15) were right behind Waples, posting 15th- and 16th-place finishes, while freshman Meredith Hughes rounded out the team's scorers after clocking a 23:20 that ranked 19th in the field.
All of Emory's scorers earned all-region honors as did senior Sophie Cemaj who turned in a 23rd-place showing (23:32) and sophomore Mave Andrews who ranked 25th after finishing with a 23:34.
Serena Gale-Butto of Centre College was the top runner with a mark of 21:51.