DOTHAN, ALA.  –  In the program's 50th season of competition, Appalachian State University women's cross country captured its first ever Sun Belt Conference Cross Country Championship in Dothan, Ala. on Saturday morning. The Mountaineers grabbed the championship with 43 team points, beating out Coastal Carolina by 13 points (second) and topping last year's conference champions South Alabama by 36 points (third). 

“I am truly ecstatic,” said head coach Michael Curcio. “The third time was a charm. The ladies executed the race plan perfectly. Tristin needed to be in the top three, and she was the runner-up. We wanted all seven in the top 15 by the woods, and they were. The last thing we told them was if you can't put a hand on your teammate you're not doing your job. As for being a Coach of the Year, I always quote Yogi Berra. When asked what makes a good manager, he replied, 'great athletes'”.

Today's conference victory marks the 30th anniversary of the first women's cross country title won at App and the 100th conference championship won by the men's and women's cross country/track program.

All of Appalachian's runners earned all-conference honors and finished inside the top 15 which helped to catapult the App's to a first-place finish. The Black and Gold's championship performance was led by senior Tristin Van Ord who sprinted past the finish line in 17:37.50 to finish in second for the third-straight year.  Appalachian's second fastest competitor was Emily Fedders who cruised past the finish line with a PR of 18:24.30 to take eighth place. Rounding out App's top three runners was Torre Moser who snagged the tenth-best time in 18:36.50.

Striding directly behind Moser was Hana Ratcliffe and Natalie Kile who darted across the finish line in 11th and 12th respectively to fill the final five spots that solidified the Mountaineers winning the event.

App State's sixth-best runner was Kerry Leonard who stuck with the lead pack the whole race and clocked a time of 18:54.30 to land in 15th.

Annie Bothma of Coastal Carolina won the individual 5k title in 17:27.50. Following Bothma was Van Ord in second and Aynslee Van Graan of Coastal in third (17:43.10).

Up Next

App State will hit the course on Saturday, Nov. 5 in Cary, N.C. for the 3 Stripe Invitational hosted by NC State. The women's 5k kicks off at 10 a.m.

2016 SBC XC Championship Team Scores

1. Appalachian State - 43 points

2. Coastal Carolina - 56 points

3. South Alabama - 79 points

4. Georgia State - 112 points

5. UT Arlington - 141 points

6. Arkansas State - 168 points

7. Georgia Southern - 181 points

8. Texas State - 183 points

9. UL Lafayette - 217 points

10. Troy - 235 points

11. UL Monroe - 291 points

12. Little Rock - 309 points

 

App State Results

2. Tristin Van Ord - 17:37.50

8. Emily Fedders - 18:24.30

10. Torre Moser -  18:36.50

11. Hana Ratcliffe - 18:38.50

12. Natalie Kile - 18:44.00

15. Kerry Leonard - 18:54.30