by Kevin Buczek
WILSON, N.C.-Juniors Angelica Del Real and Teal McLean finished first and second to lead the Barton College women's cross country team to the team victory in the first Bulldog Invitational at J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex on Friday evening.
The Lady Bulldogs had six total harriers place in the top-20 to help the hosts keep the team trophy in Wilson. Barton easily won the team title with 36 points, finishing 20 points ahead of second place Winston-Salem State University (56 points).
The victory was the second women's team title for Barton fourth year head coach Karen Godlock (2011 North Carolina Collegiate Championships).
Rounding out the field from third to eighth place were Meredith College (83), Salem College (95), Saint Augustine's College (115), Chowan University (157), Shaw University (193) and Methodist University (202).
Del Real, who finished third in her Barton debut a week earlier after transferring from El Paso Community College, captured the individual title with a blazing 3.1 mile time of 19:31.
McLean was the only other endurance runner in the field of over 70 entrants to break the 20-minute barrier. McLean trailed Del Real by just 15 seconds to take runner-up honors with a time of 19:46.
Del Real and McLean both improved on their 5k times from last week's Seahawk Invitational for new Barton PR times.
Junior Lauren Andreola and freshman Heather Cuddington also placed in the top-10 for the Lady Bulldogs. Andreola (21:02), in her first race of the season, passed Cuddington (21:03) just before the finish line to place in ninth.
The junior duo of Cimone Barbour (21:27) and Andrea Roca (21:31) traversed the new collegiate course in 14th and 16th, respectively. Sophomore Lauren Yoho (22:01) and Tikycia Young (22:36) also finished in the upper half of the field for Barton. Senior Angel Pearsall (25:21) completed the Lady Bulldogs competition in the 5k.
Junior Ericka Skinner and sophomore Jamicia Jones did not finish the race.
Barton has three weeks to prepare for its next race when the Bulldogs compete in the Conference Carolinas Preview at Frank J. Liske Park in Concord, N.C., on Friday, October 4.
Bulldog Invitational (Women's 5k)
36 – Barton (1st/8)
19:31.90 – Angelica Del Real (1st/71)
19:46.43 – Teal McLean (2nd)
21:02.84 – Lauren Andreola (9th)
21:03.05 – Heather Cuddington (10th)
21:27.78 – Cimone Barbour (14th)
21:31.14 – Andrea Roca (16th)
22:01.31 – Lauren Yoho (23rd)
22:36.34 – Tikycia Young (31st)
25:12.68 – Angel Pearsall (47th)
