Andrews and Stricklen Pace Akron at Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational

Friday, September 15

Blacksburg, Va.

University of Akron

Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational

Andrews and Stricklen Pace Akron at Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational

September 15 | Cross Country

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MEN'S RESULTS | WOMEN'S RESULTS

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Sophomore Nick Stricklen (Lexington, Ohio) and redshirt sophomore Mackenzie Andrews (Toowoomba, Australia) directed the efforts of the University of Akron cross country squads at the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational on Friday, Sept. 15.

Andrews paced the Akron women's team for the second consecutive meet with a time of 21:54.8 in the 6K race to place eighth, while Stricklen was the Zips' top finisher in the men's 8K race crossing the line 12th in 25:19.7.

"It was another solid performance for the Zips in our first 6K of the year," Akron head women's cross country coach Bridget Franek commented. "We had a few big PR's from Mackenzie (Andrews) and Tarike (Osuobeni) and everyone else ran within a few seconds of their top marks. We have a few weeks now to get some more good work in before our next showing at All-Ohio. We plan to continue to keep the positive momentum going and move up each chance we get."

Redshirt junior Elizabeth Mosier (Austintown, Ohio) was next across the line for the Zips registering a time of 22:32.3 (18th).

Completing Akron's scoring contingent was sophomore Haley Hess (Curtice, Ohio), freshman Lindsey Scarton (Berea, Ohio) and junior Tarike Osuobeni (Columbus, Ohio), who posted times of 22:47.1 (26th), 23:03.3 (33rd) and 23:08.6 (35th), respectively.

Also competing for the Zips were sophomores Vanessa Rivera (Seville, Ohio) and Hannah Pineault (Morgantown, W.Va.), along with freshman Whitney Wendling (Lexington, Ohio), as the trio completed the course in 23:18.0 (37th), 23:28.2 (38th) and 23:30.7 (40th).

As a team, Akron (99 points) finished fourth in the 14-team field placing behind only Florida State (25), Ohio (55) and Virginia Tech (87).

Sophomore Marc Migliozzi (Pittsburgh, Pa.) followed Stricklen across the line for the Akron men recording a time of 25:29.6 (15th).

Completing the Zips' scoring five were redshirt sophomores Tevin Brown (Toledo, Ohio) and Jeremiah Fitzgerald (Mantua, Ohio), along with freshman Andre Bollam-Godbott (Brunswick, Ohio), who registered times of 25:44.4 (26th), 25:53.1 (32nd) and 26:11.5 (47th), respectively.

Rounding out the Zips' efforts was sophomore Samuel Blechman (Bradford Woods, Pa.), senior Garrett Crichlow (Twinsburg, Ohio) and redshirt sophomore Nick Campbell with times of 26:23.0 (54th), 26:24.4 (57th) and 26:44.3 (61st).

"I was excited to see us compete as strong as we did and I believe we will be a better team by the end of the season" said Zips' men's head cross country coach Lee LaBadie. "We had four sophomores and a freshman in our top five on a challenging course with hills and many ups and downs. At the 3.5 mile mark, we were in a tie with East Tennessee State, Ohio and Morehead State. They were able to finish stronger than us and we ended up placing sixth, but it was a great experience to run against two good ACC teams."

As a team, Akron (109 points) finished sixth in the 12-team field placing behind Virginia Tech (36), Florida State (55), East Tennessee State (96), Morehead State (96) and Ohio (105).

The Zips return to competition at the All-Ohio Cross Country Championships in Cedarville, Ohio on Sept. 29.

MEN'S RESULTS:
Nick Stricklen (25:19.7/12th), Marc Migliozzi (25:29.6/15th), Tevin Brown (25:44.4/26th), Jeremiah Fitzgerald (25:53.1/32nd), Andre Bollam-Godbott (26:11.5/47th), Samuel Blechman (26:23.0/54th), Garrett Crichlow (26:24.4/57th), Nick Campbell (26:44.3/61st)

WOMEN'S RESULTS:
Mackenzie Andrews (21:54.7/8th), Elizabeth Mosier (22:32.3/18th), Haley Hess (22:47.1/26th), Lindsey Scarton (23:03.3/33rd), Tarike Osuuobeni (23:08.6/35th), Vanessa Rivera (23:18.0/37th), Hannah Pineault (23:28.2/38th), Whitney Wendling (23:30.7/40th)

MEN'S TEAM RESULTS:
1) Virginia Tech (36), 2) Florida State (55), 3) East Tennessee State (96), 4) Morehead State (96), 5) Ohio (105), 6) Akron (109), 7) VMI (224), 8) Lynchburg (271), 9) Roanoke (278), 10) Bridgewater (295), 11) King (336), 12) Ferrum (390)

WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS:
1) Florida State (25), 2) Ohio (55), 3) Virginia Tech (87), 4) Akron (99), 5) East Tennessee State (156), 6) Morehead State (180), 7) Lynchburg (193), 8) Washington and Lee (201), 9) VMI (213), 10) Roanoke (304), 11) King (333), 12) Hollins (386), 13) Sweet Briar (402), 14) Ferrum (427)