Sept. 12, 2015
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - Unlike last Friday, when the UCF cross country team's first attempt to begin the 2015 season was stopped in its tracks by a healthy dose of lightning, there was nothing preventing the Knights from completing the scheduled five kilometers at the UCF Invitational on Saturday.
Related: Complete Results (pdf) | UCF Results (pdf) | Photo Gallery
The Knights placed four runners in the top eight overall, but it wasn't enough to top USF, which won the meet with a total of 31 points. UCF placed second out of eight total teams, scoring 40 in its first completed meet of the season.
UCF Invitational (9-12-15) - Images by UCF Knights
Redshirt sophomore Holly Wooley led the way for the Knights, placing fourth overall while recording a time of 18:03.80. Classmate Laura Korsmit was next for UCF, crossing the line in 18:33.74 to take sixth place.
The Knights' third and fourth runners were sophomores Kalleigh Forrester and Rosie Chamberlain. They came in right after Korsmit to place seventh and eighth overall. Forrester's time of 18:51.34 was faster than any 5K she recorded as a freshman in 2014. Chamberlain timed in at 18:59.60.
UCF had four in before USF, but the Bulls' depth earned them the victory. USF's fourth and fifth runners placed 11th and 15th, respectively. The Knights' final scorer was freshman Tere Cooley, who placed 20th overall in a time of 19:54.90 in her first full collegiate race.
The Knights were competing without former American Athletic Conference Champion Anne-Marie Blaney, who is redshirting the 2015 season. Blaney ran Saturday's race unattached, winning it in a time of 17:29.43. Blaney's sister, Catherine, who runs for USF, earned the top official scoring spot with a time of 17:50.94.
UCF returns to action next weekend. The Knights will travel to Gainesville for the Mountain Dew Invitational on Sept. 19.
Story by Dan Forcella; Video by Troy Kless and Sandy Jean; Photos by Simone Amaduzzi