GIBSONIA, Pa. - The Allegheny men's and women's cross country teams each coasted to victory in the season-opening Chatham Cougar Challenge 5K.
The Gator women claimed each of the top six spots to finish with just 15 points, while the men's squad boasted each of the race's top three finishers, and eight of the top 10, to total 17 points.
Junior
Sarah Hevener paced the Gator women, covering Chatham's Eden Hall five kilometer course in 20:14.25, 12 seconds ahead of teammate
Olivia Mamula, who placed second. Â A pair of rookies making their collegiate debuts followed the upperclass duo, as
Mica Hanish placed third in 20:54.26, and fellow freshman Jessica Margraf fourth in 21:13.24. Â Allegheny sophomore
Emma Himelein-Wachowiak rounded out the top five, posting a time of 21:25.04, while a third freshman,
Maggie Malley, took sixth in 21:27.29.
Allegheny's
Jacelyn Alberts (21:54.27),
Joy Brown (21:57.99),
Karissa Coffield (22:10.98), and
Sarah Shapley (22:48.75) claimed spots eight through 11.
On the men's side, the senior tandem of
John Hughes and
Carter Smith finished neck-and-neck, with the former taking the individual title in 16:32.84, less than two seconds ahead of the latter (16:34.65). Â Junior
Matt Svetz was a third Gator to break the 17-minute mark, as he was timed in 16:40.51 to take third, his highest career individual finish.
Allegheny's fourth and fifth spots were claimed by a pair of freshmen, as
Del Vierling placed fifth overall in 17:27.87, and
Adam Cook sixth in 17:30.59. Â
Ben Evans (17:31.55) and
Benjamin Slack-Foust (17:34.32) closed out the Gators' top-seven, and placed seventh and eighth overall, respectively.
The Gators will now have a two-week layoff before returning to action on Sept. 16, when they host the Allegheny College Classic at the Robertson Athletic Complex. Â The women's starting gun is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., while the men will take the course at 10:40 a.m.
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