Photo Courtesy of Mary Holt/American Athletic Conference
LAKELAND, Fla. – The UCF cross country team posted a seventh-place team finish at the 2021 American Athletic Conference Championship in Holloway Park on Friday morning.
"All we can control is just lining up and taking our shot," UCF assistant coach Bryan Jackson said. "Racing, competing and putting ourselves in the position we need to put ourselves in. I thought the women did that very well today. I thought we put ourselves in a great position through 3000 meters. We took our shot at what we wanted today. We just have to close."
Valerie Lastra led a trio of Knights who finished in the top 35 of the 6K race. The Miami native collected her second all-conference accolade in as many seasons as she finished eighth overall with a time of 21:39.9
Charlotte Crook matched her best conference finish, crossing the line 34th in 22:52.5. Isabella Babilonia came in just behind Crook, placing 35th in her conference debut in 22:53.1.
Kambry Smith and Lillian Holtery both turned in top 50 performances in their AAC Championship debut. Smith finished 48th in 23:21.7 while Holtery placed 50th in 23:22.6.
Alexandra Del Re finished 59th in23:45.2; Rachel Wheatley finished 62nd in 23:58.8; Mackenzie Czurak finished 68th in 24:07.7 and Mariana Rodriguez rounded out UCF's competitors with a 78th place finish in 24:37.1.
The Black and Gold also picked up six points for UCF in the War on I-4, putting the Knights back in front of the overall rivalry series, 12-9.
The Knights return to action on Nov. 12, heading to Huntsville, Alabama for the South Region Championship.
Team Results
1. Tulsa 48
2. Cincinnati 91
3. Temple 93
4. SMU 101
5. ECU 137
6. Wichita State 165
7. UCF 171
8. Houston 182
9. Memphis 214
10. Tulane 254
11. South Florida 303
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