Spartan Women Take Third Straight Top Finish

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - For the third consecutive race, the University of Tampa women's cross country team has championed the NCAA Division II portion of an event. This time, the Spartans won the UF Mountain Dew Invitational with the UT men were fourth.

The Spartan women placed three in the top-five, with Chantalle Blundell finishing third in the 5K with a time of 18:20.05. Danielle Kissel (18:32.91) and Claudia Cancello (18:39.25) were fourth and fifth respectively.

Also running for Tampa's women in the D2 race were Elaina Cancello (12th, 19:18.20), Aislinn Sroczynski (16th, 19:27.04), Rachel Higgins (20th, 19:32.62), Kayla Sullivan (23rd, 19:40.47), Ariana Sotorpolis (27th, 19:55.97), Marissa Yovetich (32nd, 20:05.33), Mary Alice Smoot (34th, 20:17.89) and Brianna Jackson (44th, 20:37.10).

Leading the men's 8K for Tampa was Lars Benner with a 20th-place effort. The sophomore was timed at 26:11.34. Also representing the Spartans were Tyler Blackburn (21st, 26:14.04), Joey Maus (23rd, 26:26.51), Cory Munsch (33rd, 26:39.89), Steven Dennig (37th, 26:53.39), Phil Robbins (38th, 26:55.66), Tony Cruz (47th, 27:14.98), Drew Carff (55th, 27:25.91), Jessie Boria (68th, 27:56.49), Brendan McGonagle (69th, 27:56.61) and Mitch Arnold (71st, 28:02.06).

The Spartans return to the course on Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Louisville Invitational in Louisville, Ky.

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