by Kevin Buczek
WILMINGTON, N.C.-Four Lady Bulldogs earned top-10 finishes as the Barton College women's cross country team began its 2013 season with an impressive second place showing out of eight teams in the non-Division I portion of the Seahawk Invitational hosted by UNC Wilmington on Friday.
The Lady Bulldogs were able to hang onto the runner-up position despite the squad's top runner from last season in junior Lauren Andreola not finishing the race due to injury. Barton was second with 44 points.
UNC Pembroke, ranked fifth in the first USTFCCCA Southeast Region Top-10 poll, won the team title with 23 points and the top two individuals. Barton knocked off Conference Carolinas foe Pfeiffer University and five other in-state teams.
Junior Angelica Del Real made an immediate impact for the Lady Bulldogs after transferring from El Paso Community College. Del Real finished the 5k around the UNCW Recreational Facility in third place with a time of 19:51.04. The Socorro, Texas, product was less than a minute off the race winning time.
Junior Ericka Skinner was just six seconds behind Del Real in fourth place. Skinner was racing for the first time in just over a year after missing most of last season due to an injury. Skinner, who won the Seahawk Invite individual title two years ago, crossed the finish line in 19:57.13.
Both Del Real and Skinner were both in the top-20 overall when adding the 32 D-I runners to the mix. East Carolina University successfully defended its team title in the Division I portion of the race.
Junior Teal McLean and freshman Heather Cuddington both produced top-10 results for Barton in their Bulldog debuts. McLean was sixth with a mark of 20:31.66 and Cuddington took ninth with a time of 20:57.96.
Sophomore Jamicia Jones completed the Lady Bulldogs scoring in 22nd place with a 5k benchmark of 22:00.13. Five other Barton harriers competed in the Seahawk Invite including juniors Andrea Roca (22:22.29) and Cimone Barbour (22:24.63) both placing in the upper half of the 80-entrant field. Sophomore Lauren Yoho took 23:16.02, junior Tikycia Young made her BC debut in 24:08.38 and senior Angel Pearsall concluded the Lady Bulldogs competition at 26:28.66.
Barton will host the inaugural Bulldog Cross Country Invitational at J. Burt Gillette Athletic Complex on Friday. The women's 5k race will begin at 6 p.m.
Seahawk Invitational (Women's Division II/III 5k Results)
44 - Barton (2nd/8)
19:51.04 – Angelica Del Real (3rd/80)
19:57.13 – Ericka Skinner (4th)
20:31.66 – Teal McLean (6th)
20:57:96 – Heather Cuddington (9th)
22:00.13 – Jamicia Jones (22nd)
22:22.29 – Andrea Roca (27th)
22:24.63 – Cimone Barbour (28th)
23:16.02 – Lauren Yoho (43rd)
24:08.38 – Tikycia Young (47th)
26:28.66 – Angel Pearsall (58th)
