TULSA, Oklahoma – The UCF cross country team capped off their 10-year stay in the American Athletic Conference on Friday morning at Mohawk Park in Tulsa. The Knights placed eighth overall as both Penelope Sosa and Lillian Holtery cracked the top 25.
Sosa was in the front pack for the majority of the race and her time of 21:54.1 smashes her 6K personal best of 22:28.7, propelling her to a 23rd-place finish in her first Conference Championship.
Holtery wasn't too far behind as her 25th-place performance was 25 spots better than her final mark at the AAC Championship last year. The sophomore's time of 22:09.2 matches her 6K personal best set two weeks ago at the Arturo Barrios Invitational in Texas.
Riley Jasczak, along with Sosa, was one of three Knights that broke their 6K personal bests with a time of 22:44.2, placing 47th overall.
Along with Sosa, Isabella Richardson and Andrea Ballestero rounded out the talented freshman field. Ballestero finished 54th with a time of 22:55.6, a good showing in her first conference appearance. Richardson did not finish.
Mackenzie Czurak and Ali Del Re came in 63rd and 65th, with times of 23:05.6 and 23:17.7., Del Re broke her personal best in the 6K by just under 30 seconds. Mariana Rodriquez and Brenna Mullaney rounded out the field. Rodriquez, with a time of 23:31.2, came in 73rd as Mullaney's time of 24:57.7 landed her 88th.
With the result, the Black and Gold pick up another six points in the War on I-4, joining women's soccer and volleyball as UCF now leads the rivalry 15-0.
The Knights now move their sights to the NCAA South Region Championship in Huntsville, Alabama, on Nov. 11.
Team Results
1. Tulsa (37)
2. SMU (66)
3. Cincinnati (95)
4. Tulane (120)
5. Wichita State (126)
6. Memphis (174)
7. Houston (196)
8. UCF (205)
9. East Carolina (214)
10. Temple (215)
11. South Florida (313)
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