WOMEN'S RESULTS | MEN'S RESULTS
SPOKANE, Wash. – The Nova Southeastern cross country program wrapped up a successful season at the NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championship Saturday in Spokane, Wash. at the Plantes Ferry Athletic Complex.
The women's team finished 30th in the strong field, defeating teams such as Merrimack and Flagler.
Long Tran (Sr., Saigon, Vietnam) represented his men's team and claimed 178th place with a time of 33:13.2. He was sixth among Sunshine State Conference runners. Tran finishes an illustrious career with an All-South Region selection while becoming one of the few runners in program history to compete in multiple NCAA National Championships.
"Long did a great job," said head coach
Bryan Hagopian. "I couldn't have asked for a better individual performance."
Tran and the female runners battled not only the nation's best competition, but an environment very different from South Florida. The Sharks ran 2,000 feet above sea level and in 30 degree weather. However, the women's team pushed through, led by SSC Runner of the Year
Alexandria Palm (Sr., Winnebago, Ill.). Palm finished in 132nd place with a time of 22:53.3.
"I'm really happy for the women's team, they did an excellent job," said Hagopian. " They had an excellent year, I couldn't have asked more. We lose some key player from this year's run but I believe strongly that we'll be back next year."
Rose Howell (Jr., St. Louis, Mo.) was right behind Palm, finishing less than 40 seconds after her with a time of 23:30.3. Palm finishes her career alongside seniors
Peri Bowman (Virginia Beach, Va.) and
Brittaney Smash (Arlington, Texas). Bowman finished with a time of 23:47.7 and Smash completed the race in 24:39.5.
Juniors
Brittany White (Bangor, Pa.) and
Aimee Sims (Jr., St. Anne, Ill.) finished behind the seniors. White was one place behind Smash with a time of 24:39.7, while Sims finished next in 25:26.3.
Dominique Grasso (Fr., Raleigh, N.C.) rounded out the Sharks in her first appearance at nationals. NSU's top freshman finished in a time of 26:15.2.
The women's team expects to return four of its seven runners at nationals and will shoot for a third straight national berth in 2014.
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