University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
Delaware Invitational
Cross Country Dominate at Annual Delaware Invitational
9/20/2024 12:32:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware cross country team returned to the First State and hosted the annual Delaware Invitational on a warm 81-degree Friday morning (Sept. 20). The Blue Hens ran the White Clay Creek State Park 5K course and the squad of 20 runners was able to win the invitational headlined by racking up a perfect score along with nine top-10 finishes.
COACHES' QUOTE
PLAYER QUOTEsound off @CoachJTHayman 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/9Z0dvlzLjf
— Delaware Track & Field/Cross Country (@DelawareTFXC) September 20, 2024
you are #1‼️ pic.twitter.com/25VbwUbMXB
— Delaware Track & Field/Cross Country (@DelawareTFXC) September 20, 2024
HENS HIGHLIGHTS
- As a squad, Delaware tallied 15 points to finish in first place out of six teams competing in the event.
- Gabriella Gait-Smith set the pace by capturing individual meet honors and being the first Blue Hen to cross the finish line at 18:26.1, a time that sits in first of the top times among Delaware runners on the 5K White Clay course.
- The Johannesburg, South Africa native's time also sits in sixth place of the top times among all runners of the 5K course.
- Right behind Gait-Smith 10 seconds later was Stephanie Herrera, who ran a personal-best time of 18:37.1. Stephanie's time now sits in fifth place of the top times among Delaware runners of the 5K course.
- Erin McGoey (PB-19:00.2), Tiffany Herrera (PB-19:02.0) and Kelly Lynch (19:03.3) rounded out the Blue Hens' scoring five by placing three through five, respectively.
- Rounding out Delaware's top-10 finishers were Marissa Dailey (PB-19:07.5, sixth place), Danielle Eshelman (PB-19:14.1, eighth place), Leah Clear (PB-19:18.3, ninth place) and Ella Peterson (PB-19:24.3, 10th place).
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Delaware took the top spot among the field of six teams with 76 runners by a score of 15. The Blue Hens also captured the top six spots, including Gait-Smith being crowned the individual champion.
- Behind Delaware was Towson (49) in second place, while Delaware TC (102), Wilmington (118), Goldey-Beacom (120) and Chestnut Hill (166) followed in respective order.
- Adding to the mix with strong performances were:
- Rachel Starr, 19:24.5, 11th overall
- Lauren Thomas, PB-19:32.2, 13th overall
- Libby DeMichele, PB-19:47.3, 15th overall
- Kadence Dumas, PB-19:48.1, 16th overall
- Nina Sgambelluri, 19:58.4, 18th overall
- Katie Kuhlman, PB-20:13.2, 21st overall
- Anna Pryor, PB-20:20.3, 23rd overall
- Nicole Re, 20:24.1, 24th overall
- Jordan Blanck, PB-20:27.0, 25th overall
- Reagan Forkey, PB-20:31.3, 27th overall
- Marissa Mauro, PB-21:07.2, 29th overall
RACE NOTES
- This is the first time since the 2019 campaign that the Blue Hens won the Delaware Invitational
- Gait-Smith becoming the individual champion for the Blue Hens is the first time since the 2022 season. The last time Delaware reached this feat was when Blue Hen alum Sarah Daniels captured the honor at the Delaware Opener and former Blue Hen Grace Chesley did the same at the Goldey-Beacom Fall Classic
- 15 Blue Hen posted new personal-best 5K times Friday morning
- This is the lone cross country meet for the Blue Hens in September
UP NEXT
The Blue Hens will open October's slate of meets by heading back to Bethlehem, Pa. on Saturday, Oct. 5 to race at the 50th annual Paul Short Run, hosted by Leigh University from Goodman Campus Cross Country Course.
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Players Mentioned
