Consistent performances paved the way for the Georgia Gwinnett College women's cross country team to take top honors at the Brewton-Parker Invitational, hosted by Brewton-Parker Christian University in Mount Vernon, Georgia, on Friday evening.

The Grizzlies placed first in the third race of the program's inaugural season. The team edged Florida State College at Jacksonville by four points with a score of 56 points.

RESULTS

GGC had five runners among the top 20 finishers in the 5-kilometer race, including four between 12th and 20th places. The team's depth and quality overcame Florida State College's squad with second, eighth, 10th, and 15th place finishers.

Sophomore Sadie McGuinn, the reigning Continental Athletic Conference Runner of the Week, led the team with a strong third placing in 22:00.37.

Other GGC finishers were sophomore Molly Kemp, 12th in 25:02.68; freshman Daisy Pantoja, 16th in 26:33.06; junior Kaylee Martineau, 17th in 26:37.4; freshman Jana Thomas, 19th in 27:12.5; and freshman Amra Hecimovic, 20th in 27:16.

The Grizzlies' fourth and fifth runners and their 16 and 17 finishing points gave the team the edge over Florida State College, whose fourth and fifth runners placed 34th and 35th among all runners.

NCAA Division II Edward Waters University (Florida) finished in third place while Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Georgia) and Georgia Military College rounded out the top five teams in the meet.
 
Coach's Corner
"I am very excited for the women. The ability to finish a race first is a true testament to all the hard work we've done for the past two months. Sadie continues to impress me with her focus on personal growth and being our top runner," said Interim Head Coach Kat Ihlenburg.
 
Up Next
Georgia Gwinnett College is scheduled to conclude the regular season by competing in the Warhawk Invitational on Thursday, October 8, at Oakville Indian Mounds in Alabama.