Skip to main content
Saturday, September 5
Spartanburg, S.C.

Davidson College

at

Eye Opener

ruggieri

Wildcats Open Season Strong with Runner-Up Finish at Eye Opener

9/5/2009 5:39:13 PM | Women's Cross Country

Team Results
Individual Results

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Behind three top-10 performances, the Davidson Wildcat women's cross country team raced to a runner-up finish behind host USC Upstate at the Eye Opener Cross Country Meet Saturday morning in Spartanburg, S.C.

The Wildcat women amassed just 55 points, finishing just four points behind USC Upstate and ahead of Furman (71), Charlotte (82) and the College of Charleston (89). Wofford (163) and Charleston Southern (198) rounded out the field with sixth and seventh-place finishes.

Freshman Natalie Atabek was the top finisher for the Wildcats in her collegiate debut, placing sixth with a time of 18:39. She was followed immediately by juniors Danielle Ruggieri (18:40) and Lauren Childs (18:40), who finished seventh and eighth, respectively.

"I am so proud of the way that our team ran today!" head coach Jen Straub said. "Natalie ran a great race, finishing first for us as a freshman, and our whole team ran well. We finished second without #Heather (Conarroe)#, who is running really well right now, so I'm very excited about our potential and looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish this season!"

Sophomore Jane Gay finished 14th with a time of 19:15, and Sarah Cline rounded out the scoring for the Wildcats with a 20th-place finish in a time of 19:30. Sophomore Anna Stockamore finished 21st with a time of 19:31, and freshman Caroline Gecker was 24th with a time of 19:38.

USC Upstate placed a pair of runners in the top three to win the meet. Sophomore Caroline Chelulei was the individual champion, finishing with a time of 18:12. Teammate Jemeli Sang was third with a time of 18:26.

The Wildcats return to action at the Winthrop Invitational Sept. 19.