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Friday, August 31, 2012

Cross Country Contact: Tom Fenstermaker

Cross Country Makes 2012 Debut at Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational

Schrom finishes second on menÂ’s side

BLACKSBURG, Va.—The Virginia men’s and women’s cross country teams made their 2012 debut Friday evening at the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational in Blacksburg, Va. The Tech Cross Country Course is the site of the ACC Championships on Oct. 27.

Sophomore Ed Schrom (Harrisburg, Pa.) led the men, finishing second in a 6K time of 18:30.33. The rest of the Cavaliers ran mostly as a group, with sophomore Jack St. Marie (Westlake, Ohio) crossing the line first in 43rd overall.

“This was a chance for some of our middle distance runners to see where their fitness level is,” head men’s cross country coach Pete Watson said. “Ed Schrom particularly had a great run in his first UVa cross country meet.”

On the womenÂ’s side, the Cavaliers all ran as a pack as the first five finished together, placing 10th to 14th overall. The quintet included junior Katherine Walker (Stafford, Va.), graduate student Catherine White (Roanoke, Va.), sophomore Kathleen Stevens (Blacksburg, Va.), senior transfer Vicky Fouhy (Buckinghamshire, England) and freshman Audrey Batzel (Virginia Beach, Va.) Walker crossed the line 10th in a 4K time of 14:33.34.

“Today was a great chance for us to see the ACC Championship course and work on some team dynamics,” head women’s cross country coach Todd Morgan said. “I was happy with our approach to the meet, and how we followed our game plan. This group is doing a good job of getting better every day.”

The Cavaliers return to action Sept. 22 when they host the Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational.