Saturday, September 3
Newark, Del.
8:30 AM
University of Delaware
vs
Delaware Opener
Cross Country Earns Top-Three Sweep at Delaware Opener
9/3/2022 10:13:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Results (PDF)
NEWARK, Del. – Cross country held its season opener on Saturday at White Clay Creek State Park, earning a sweep of the top three results and having nine of the top 15 finishers in the meet, earning a first-place title to begin the campaign.
"That was beautiful. When I think about how we wanted to race it, we couldn't have executed any better," head coach Ryan Waite said. "We talked to our top-three and told them if there was an opportunity for them to run in together, let's do that, because one of the things that we're trying to emphasize this year is that pack mentality, racing conservatively in the beginning, attacking in the middle and coming on strong at the end. They did that perfectly."
As Waite said, the top three finishers finished within 0.4 seconds of each other. While Sarah Daniels was the first-place finisher with a time of 18:38.6, Nina Sgambelluri was right behind her with a time of 18:38.8 and Autumn Sands crossed the line with a time of 18:39.0 as the Blue Hens swept the top three.
"We're trying to race together this year because that makes us stronger. That was the goal the whole race, and at the end, we ran in together, so it could have been any of us who technically finished in first place," Daniels said. "That was the goal to run in together, and we want to carry that all season."
Among four competitive institutions, Delaware totaled 18 points to finish in first place and earned the team title. Monmouth followed in second with 47, Towson placed third with 73 and Holy Family rounded out the scoring with 114.
Also placing in the top 10 were Katie Hally, who finished fifth with a time of 18:47.7, Molly Lashley, who placed seventh with a time of 18:52.5, and Tiffany Herrera, who finished in ninth with a time of 19:13.0.
This will be the first of three times Delaware will race at White Clay Creek State Park, with the next coming on October 15 and the final being the CAA Championships on October 28, giving the Blue Hens an opportunity to be more familiar with their course as opposed to their opponents.
"It gives you a huge advantage, knowing where every rock, every root and every hill is on the course going into the championship race," Sands said. "Other teams won't have that knowledge coming in."
The Blue Hens will remain in Delaware for their next meet as they take the short trip to Carousel Park in Wilmington for the Goldey Beacom Fall Classic.
For the latest on the University of Delaware Cross Country team, follow the Blue Hens via social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. #BlueHens
NEWARK, Del. – Cross country held its season opener on Saturday at White Clay Creek State Park, earning a sweep of the top three results and having nine of the top 15 finishers in the meet, earning a first-place title to begin the campaign.
"That was beautiful. When I think about how we wanted to race it, we couldn't have executed any better," head coach Ryan Waite said. "We talked to our top-three and told them if there was an opportunity for them to run in together, let's do that, because one of the things that we're trying to emphasize this year is that pack mentality, racing conservatively in the beginning, attacking in the middle and coming on strong at the end. They did that perfectly."
As Waite said, the top three finishers finished within 0.4 seconds of each other. While Sarah Daniels was the first-place finisher with a time of 18:38.6, Nina Sgambelluri was right behind her with a time of 18:38.8 and Autumn Sands crossed the line with a time of 18:39.0 as the Blue Hens swept the top three.
"We're trying to race together this year because that makes us stronger. That was the goal the whole race, and at the end, we ran in together, so it could have been any of us who technically finished in first place," Daniels said. "That was the goal to run in together, and we want to carry that all season."
Among four competitive institutions, Delaware totaled 18 points to finish in first place and earned the team title. Monmouth followed in second with 47, Towson placed third with 73 and Holy Family rounded out the scoring with 114.
Also placing in the top 10 were Katie Hally, who finished fifth with a time of 18:47.7, Molly Lashley, who placed seventh with a time of 18:52.5, and Tiffany Herrera, who finished in ninth with a time of 19:13.0.
This will be the first of three times Delaware will race at White Clay Creek State Park, with the next coming on October 15 and the final being the CAA Championships on October 28, giving the Blue Hens an opportunity to be more familiar with their course as opposed to their opponents.
"It gives you a huge advantage, knowing where every rock, every root and every hill is on the course going into the championship race," Sands said. "Other teams won't have that knowledge coming in."
The Blue Hens will remain in Delaware for their next meet as they take the short trip to Carousel Park in Wilmington for the Goldey Beacom Fall Classic.
For the latest on the University of Delaware Cross Country team, follow the Blue Hens via social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. #BlueHens
