Pitt Posts Best Finishes at ACC Cross Country Championships

Friday, October 28

Cary, N.C.

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Pitt

ACC Cross Country Championship

Pitt Posts Best Finishes at ACC Cross Country Championships

10/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country

MEN'S RESULTS | WOMEN'S RESULTS

CARY, N.C. - The University of Pittsburgh cross country teams posted their best ACC Championship finishes in program history, competing at WakeMed Soccer Park Friday morning.

"I was impressed with how both teams competed," Pitt head coach Alonzo Webb said. "They were well-prepared and ready to compete in one of the best cross country conferences in the nation. Our goal is always to improve upon our previous performance and that was accomplished."

The women's team placed seventh, two spots better than their 2015 finish. The men took ninth, moving up four spots after taking 13th for the last two seasons.

"Gillian [Schriever]'s individual performance was the best I've seen on our women's team since All-American Maureen McCandless competed here in 2004 when she won the Mid-Atlantic Region and finished fifth at the NCAA Championship," Webb said. "In two weeks at the regional meet I'm looking for both teams to continue their growth and have the highest finishes that we've had here."

AT THE FINISH LINE
Sophomore Gillian Schriever posted the best individual ACC finish by a Pitt cross country runner in program history, taking fifth place in the 6K with a personal-record time of 20:04.7. She became Pitt's first All-ACC Cross Country honoree.

Melanie Vlasic was next in line for Pitt, coming in 30th at 20:56.2 for a personal record. Last season, Schriever was Pitt's top finisher in 41st place.

On the men's side, three runners placed in the top 50: Michael Runco (32nd - 24:10.7), Aaron Lauer (37th - 24:17.6) and Nick Wolk (50th - 24:28.9).

Runco's placement marked Pitt's best individual performance at an ACC meet in school history. In 2015, the Panthers' top performer was Chris Montgomery in 71st.

No. 3 NC State took the win on the women's side, and No. 6 Syracuse claimed its fourth consecutive win in the men's race.

COACHES' CORNER
"I am really proud with how we competed today," Pitt women's coach Adam Bray "This group has grown leaps and bounds in the past two years. This year's conference meet was a battle for the middle places of the meet. We were able to beat some teams, but gave up a few points to some as well. Overall this was another positive step in the right direction. Gillian Schriever ran outstanding today. She finished fifth in one of the premiere conferences in the country. I really cannot put into words how impressed I am with her each day. We had many other personal best finishes at the ACC meet, as well. In two weeks at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional, we plan on continuing to improve."

"I'm proud of how the men aggressively competed today," Pitt men's coach Bryan Jackson "We have big goals for this group and they went for it from the start. We are moving in the right direction and I am excited for what the immediate and long term future holds for Pitt men's cross country."

LOOKING AHEAD
Both teams put their regional rakings to the test as the Panthers head two hours east to Penn State for NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals Friday, Nov. 11. Earlier this year, Pitt took a preview of the course when it competed at the PSU National Open Friday, Oct. 14, in University Park, Pa.

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