COCKEYSVILLE, Md. – Both the UMBC
men's and women's cross country teams placed third at the Towson
Invitational, Friday evening at Oregon Ridge
Park. Junior Vinny
DiSalvo (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) led the
men, finishing in fifth place, while junior Kirsten
McGovern (Sykesville, Md./Century) paced the women taking
third place.
McGovern's finish was her first ever as the Retriever's top
runner as she completed the 5K course in 19:08.83. For
the second straight week freshman Nicole
Dawson (Jessup, Md./Hammond) was the second Retriever
across the line (19:42.29) with sophomore Sarah
Daly (Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion) just five seconds
behind (19:47.73) for the Black and Gold. Junior Cody
Mezebish (Westminster, Md./South Carroll)
and sophomore Julie
Gessler (Ellicott City, Md./Institute of Notre Dame)
rounded out the scoring for UMBC.
For DiSalvo, competing in his first race of the season, it was
also his first time pacing the Retriever squad, finishing the five
mile run in 26:53.93, just a half of a minute behind the race
leader. Freshman Zach
Hopkins (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) was the next
Retriever to finish the competition, placing 15th overall in a time
of 28:24.65. JuniorAndrew
Smith (Chadds Ford, Pa./Garnet Valley) placed 17th, while
freshmen Andrew
Keresztes (Port Jefferson, N.Y./Port Jefferson)
and Ben
Pickett (Abingdon, Md./John Carroll) finished 19th and
20th, respectively.
UMBC returns to competition next Saturday, Sept. 29 at the Mason
Invitational. The race at Oatlands Plantation is
scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
