Women's 6k Results
Men's 8k Results
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of South Alabama women's cross country runners Laura Labuschaigne and Ashley Heitling each recorded a top-30 finish Friday morning at the Crimson Classic hosted by the University of Alabama at the Harry Pritchett Running Park.
The South Alabama women didn't place at the Bama meet as Labuschaigne and Heitling were the only two runners competing for the USA women.
The Jaguar men placed 21st out of 24 teams in the university division with 532 points in the 8k race. Kentucky had all five of its runners finish in the top 25 and ran away with the meet championship in the university division with 70 points. Georgia finished in second 113 points behind the Wildcats with 83 points, while Sun Belt Conference member Texas-Arlington had 147 points to place third. Samford (148) and Auburn (153) rounded out the top 5 on the men's side.
The men's field was loaded with some of the best teams from around the South Region as 10 teams were ranked among the top 15 in the most recent United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (UTSFCCCA) South Region rankings — including eight in the top 10.
UK's Kathy Kune placed first on the university side as she clocked a time of 20:15.2. Meet hosts Alabama placed three runners in the top 15 and recorded 76 points to take home first-place honors among the university teams in the field. Kentucky was 20 points behind the Crimson Tide in second and was followed by Lipscomb (127), Georgia (139) and Auburn (149). All of the top-5 placing teams ranked in the top 10 of their respective regions.
Labuschaigne continued her outstanding fall campaign as she placed 15th out of the 251 university-runner field. The Durbanville, Western Cape, South Africa, native recorded a time of 20:15.2 – her fastest 6k time of this season. She has now placed in the top 30 of all three races in which she has competed this fall.
Heitling ended the meet with a time of 21:39.7 to place her 28th at the meet. Friday's meet was just the second of the fall for the Mount Dora, Fla., native. Her biggest jump of the race came between the 1500m and 3000m mark as she improved 20 spots.
"Laura and Ashley competed really well against a quality field," South Alabama head coach David Barnett said.
On the men's side, junior runner Nathan Reich and freshman David Savic had solid showings for the Jaguars on Friday. Reich placed 65th out of 217 runners in the university division with a time of 26:06.05 – his second-fastest 8k time of the fall, while Savic also had a top-100 finish, coming in at 90th with a time of 26:29.8.
Reich's biggest jump came in between the 4000-meter mark and the 5100-meter mark as the Alpharetta, Ga., native improved 14 positions, and during the last 2000-meters, he improved 12 more spots.
"The men made progress on a tough race course and will be ready for conference," Barnett said. "Nate and David did great today with very even-paced racing."
Also competing for South Alabama at the meet were Luke Fielding who came in 123rd with a time of 26:53.7, Phillip Friedlander who placed 178th with a time of 27:44.4 and Cameron Ellis who clocked a time of 28:00.2 to place 186th.
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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