by Kevin Buczek
CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Senior Sammy Serem and sophomore Lauren Andreola were Barton College's top finishers in the 2012 Charlotte Cross Country Invitational hosted by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte at McAlphine Creek Park on Friday afternoon.
Barton men's cross country finished in 31st place out of 35 teams in the big event that featured mostly Division I opposition. The Lady Bulldogs did not record a team score after sophomore Andrea Roca suffered an injury during the women's race.
Serem was the 123rd harrier to cross the finish line in the men's 8,000-meter race out of 244 results. Serem was the 10th Division II distance runner to complete the race helping the Bulldogs defeat in-region foes Francis Marion University, Erskine College and Lees-McRae College.
Senior Christopher Free posted 169th with at time of 27:48.03; sophomore Austin Edmonds stopped the clock in 28:58.99 for 194th; sophomore Daniel Strutton took 216th at 30:11.93; and junior Walter Ngeno concluded competition for Barton men's squad in 226th at 31:11.64.
Andreola was the Lady Bulldogs best finisher for a third consecutive meet as she completed the 6,000-meter women's course in 24:48.01. Andreola's time was a new collegiate 6k personal record (PR) by nearly three minutes from her freshman season. Andreola was the 10th Division II runner to finish the race and was 136th out of 233 total contenders.
Senior Alexa Tovella captured 171st with a time of 26:03.17; freshman Lauren Yoho recorded a benchmark of 26:42.44 in 183rd place; and sophomore Cimone Barbour positioned 197th after taking 27:55.78.
Barton will conclude its regular season competition in the Conference Carolinas Preview hosted by Belmont Abbey College at Frank Liske Park in Concord, N.C., on Friday, October 5.
Barton Men's Results
123. Sammy Serem (26.54.27)
169. Christopher Free (27:48.03)
194. Austin Edmonds (28:58.99)
216. Daniel Strutton (30:11.93)
226. Walter Ngeno (31:11.64)
Barton Women's Results
136. Lauren Andreola (24:48:01)
171. Alexa Tovella (26:03.17)
183. Lauren Yoho (26:42.44)
197. Cimone Barbour (27:55.78)
