Spartan Women Open 2014 Season with D2 Victory at USF Open
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa women's cross country team was first among NCAA Division II schools at the University of South Florida Open on Friday night. Tampa's men also turned in an impressive showing with a third-place effort among D2 schools.
Chantalle Blundell was first among Division II runners, with a time of 18:50.21. She was also seventh among the 198 total runners. Tampa placed five runners in the top-10 as Blundell was joined by Claudia Cancello (3rd, 19:12.44), Danielle Kissel (5th, 19:23.62), Aislinn Sroczynski (7th, 19:57.70) and Marissa Yovetich (8th, 20:01.16).
Also running for the Spartan women were Kayla Sullivan (12th, 20:11.49), Rachel Higgins (14th, 20:16.23), Elaina Cancello (16th, 20:21.78), Mary Alice Smoot (19th, 20:25.66), Brianna Jackson (20th, 20:30.40), Rose Bastian (27th, 20:47.01), Ariana Sotorpolis (28th, 20:47.30), Aimee Epps (31st, 20:53.27), Ailey Langley (34th, 20:55.51) and Ronni Mercier (35th, 20:56.08).
Lars Benner led the Tampa men with a 17th-place finish as the sophomore was clocked at 26:47.88. Also running for Tampa's men were Joey Maus (20th, 26:55.30), Cory Munsch (21st, 26:58.07), Tyler Blackburn (22nd, 26:58.98), Jake Poore (39th, 27:40.25), Steven Dennig (50th, 27:58.78), Aaron Oldanie (52nd, 28:00.80), Mitch Arnold (54th, 28:05.23), Matt Hoffman (68th, 28:40.18), Tony Cruz (70th, 28:42.62), Eddie Keenan (71st, 28:45.07), Drew Carff (72nd, 28:46.27), Phil Robbins (78th, 29:05.52), Jessie Boria (80th, 29:23.80), Sam Anderson (85th, 29:46.36) and Daniel Haim (95th, 30:28.03).
The Spartans are back in action on Friday at the annual Early Bird Classic, which will be hosted by UT at Sydney Dover Trails.
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