Early Bird Classic Shortened Due to Inclement Weather

TAMPA, Fla. (UCFKnights.com) - The UCF cross country team opened up the 2015 season on Friday at the Early Bird Classic hosted by the University of Tampa, but the Knights were not able to finish the race due to inclement weather.

Related: Results (pdf)

With lightning in the area as the leaders were about one mile in, meet officials found it too dangerous to continue and ushered the runners towards the finish line. When it was all said and done the women ran 1.82 miles instead of the schedule five kilometers (approximately 3.1 miles).

Running unattached, the Knights' Anne-Marie Blaney was the first to cross the line, finishing in a time of 10:37.45. Holly Wooley and Laura Korsmit were next for UCF, recording times of 10:48.23 and 10:48.71 in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Amy Ankli, Rosie Chamberlain and Ashton McMurray rounded out the Knights' top five on the day. Ankli was 11th, Chamberlain took 16th and McMurray crossed the line in 24th overall.

The Knights will now return home to compete again next Saturday, hosting the UCF Invitational.

Keep up with the cross country and track & field programs by following the team on Twitter (@UCF_Track) and Instagram (ucf.track).

Story by Dan Forcella