Liberty University
UVa Duals
Kurgat, Kirwa Star at UVa Duals
9/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
A number of Liberty newcomers fared well at the season-opening UVa Duals, Wednesday afternoon at Panorama Farms, headlined by Ednah Kurgat and Azaria Kirwa. Kurgat won the women's 4K individual title, while Kirwa placed second in the men's 4K race.
Kurgat's victory helped the Lady Flames win two out of their three duals on the day, both against in-state foes. Liberty edged James Madison by a 26-31 count and defeated a short-handed No. 16 Virginia squad, 19-44. Charlotte was the only women's squad to beat the Lady Flames, doing so by a 20-41 score.
Meanwhile, the Liberty men's team went 1-2 with a 19-44 triumph over Norfolk State. The Flames fell to No. 9 Virginia, 21-34, and Charlotte, 22-33.
Women's Race Recap
Coming off of a stellar 2015 track & field season, Kurgat made an impressive collegiate cross country debut. Her 4K clocking of 14:06 was 14 seconds faster than runner-up Bonnie Angermeier, who was competing unattached.
Fellow freshman Elizabeth Mulford finished second for the Lady Flames and 11th overall among the 40 entrants, covering the course in 15:21.
The Lady Flames' next six finishers were separated by just 18 seconds, paced by Kat Bouton in 19th place at 15:36. She was followed closely by Caroline Parris (21st, 15:38), Terrill Zentmeyer (22nd, 15:42), Alyssa Karle (23rd, 15:46), Jessie Proehl (24th, 15:49) and Anna Van Wyk (26th, 15:54).
Men's Race Recap
The first three Flames to finish (Kirwa, Luke Jelen and James Zentmeyer) were each making their Liberty cross country debuts on Wednesday. A true freshman, Kirwa was in the lead during the latter stages of the race before being overtaken on the final straightaway. Virginia's Henry Wynne was victorious in a 4K time 11:51, followed by Kirwa in 11:59.
Redshirt sophomore Jelen (12:45) and freshman Zentmeyer (12:47) finished neck-and-neck in 11th and 12th places, respectively, among the field of 28 men's runners.
Josh Showalter (15th, 12:54), Louis Paone (17th, 12:55), Jeremie Bourget (18th, 12:57) and Jack Tidball (19th, 13:07) rounded out Liberty's top seven.
Liberty will return to Panorama Farms for its next meet, the Sept. 26 Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational. The day's first race will begin at 10 a.m.
