Greater Louisiville Classic - Gold Division - Women's 5K Results.pdf
Greater Louisiville Classic - Gold Division - Men's 8K Results.pdf

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of South Alabama cross country runner Laura Labuschaigne continued her solid start to 2016 as the sophomore placed 30th out of 368 runners with a time of 17:29.20 in the women's 5K Saturday morning at the Greater Louisville Classic hosted by the Louisville Sports Commission at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park.

As a team, the Jaguar women finished 26th out of 36 teams with an average time of 19:10.68.  The South Alabama men placed 33rd with an average time of 26:37.71.

South Alabama will next compete in two weeks when the Jaguars travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take part in the Crimson Classic hosted by Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 14.

Along with Labuschaigne, Ashley Heitling – making her season debut – placed 82nd in the field with a time of 17:59.30.  Also competing for the Jaguar women on Saturday were Nicole Durham (19:13.00 – 246th), Gillianne Sharp (19:14.80 – 247th), Abigail Cain (21:57.10 – 366th) and Olivia Swan (23:00.50 – 368th).

"All and all, I thought everyone gave good effort today," South Alabama cross country head coach David Barnett said.  "I was particularly pleased with Laura [Labuschaigne], Ashley [Heitling] and Gillianne [Sharp].  I thought the three of them really raced well, especially since this is the first race for Ashley and just the second for Laura and Gillianne.  All three really performed well.  I think they've put themselves in position a good position to be ready for the meet at Alabama."

Michigan's Erin Finn finished first in the women's 5K with a time of 16:26.70.  On the men's side, Louisville's Edwin Kibichiy took home top honors in the men's 8K with a time of 23:34.80

Junior runner Nathan Reich was the top finisher in the 8K for the Jaguar men, finishing 165th with a time of 26:03.50.  True freshman David Savic finished five seconds behind Reich with a time of 26:08.16 coming in 172nd.  Phillip Friedlander was 220th with a time of 26:35.55, followed by Luke Fielding (238th – 26:44.55) and Cameron Ellis (286th – 27:36.79).

"I think what I liked about the men's team today was that they didn't race over their heads, they ran under control and they were able to put together a quality race," Barnett said of the Jaguar men.  "Whether you get the impressive time or not, to me it's all about running a quality race and putting yourself in a position to get better for the end of the season.  The men as a whole ran really well and I was pleased."  

The South Alabama men were racing without their top runner – Katelho Dyoyi – but despite being short-handed, Barnett was pleased with what he saw out of his group.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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