MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men's and women's cross country teams turned in a pair of dominant performances Friday afternoon as each ran away with the team titles in their respective 5K races at the Azalea City Classic held at the Old Brookley Gulf Pines Golf Course.

South's women led by Caroline Millenaar who placed first with a time of 18:16.7 – captured the top seven spots, while Onesmus Kemboi also won the men's event crossing the line with a time of 15:41.1. Led by Kemboi's performance, the Jag men cruised to the team title picking up six of the top seven spots.

Date: 9/6
Meet: Azalea City Classic
Host: South Alabama
Place: Old Brookley Gulf Pines Golf Course (Mobile, Ala.)

TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS
WOMEN'S – 5K
1. Carolien Millenaar, South Alabama (18:16.7); 2. Andonet Cheruiyot, South Alabama (18:46.0; 3. Silje Lindstad, South Alabama (18:58.2); 4. Alyse Henry, South Alabama (19:06.2); 5. Adele Magaud, South Alabama (19:20.3); 6. Susanna Pudner, South Alabama (19:35.4); 7. Abbey Weitenbeck, South Alabama (20:15.8); 8. Michaela Ashley, Troy (20:50.8); 9. Summer Williams, Troy (20:50.8); 10. Elizabeth Holcombe, South Alabama (21.35.4)

MEN'S – 5K
1. Onesmus Kemboi, South Alabama (15:41.1); 2. Warno Potgieter, South Alabama (15:47.2); 3. Thomas Sand, South Alabama (15:53.9); 4. Nate Pudner, South Alabama (16:10.3); 5. Bradley Dixon, Troy (16:17.7); 6. Lance Cunigan, South Alabama (16:28.2); 7. Caleb Smith, South Alabama (16:30.0); 8. Silas Franklin, Troy (16:41.0); 9. Blake Vaughan, Troy (16:46.1); 10. Bennett Brake, Troy (16:48.9)

TEAM FINISHES
WOMEN'S – 5K
1. SOUTH ALABAMA (15 Pts); 2. Troy (54 Pts); 3. Mobile (71 Pts)

MEN'S – 5K
1. SOUTH ALABAMA (16 Pts); 2. Troy (44 Pts); 3. Mobile (85 Pts)

SOUTH ALABAMA INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES
WOMEN'S – 5K
1. Carolien Millenaar (18:16.7); 2. Andonet Cheruiyot (18:46.0; 3. Silje Lindstad (18:58.2); 4. Alyse Henry (19:06.2); 5. Adele Magaud (19:20.3); 6. Susanna Pudner (19:35.4); 7. Abbey Weitenbeck(20:15.8); 10. Elizabeth Holcombe (21.35.4)

MEN'S –5K
1. Onesmus Kemboi (15:41.1); 2. Warno Potgieter (15:47.2); 3. Thomas Sand (15:53.9); 4. Nate Pudner (16:10.3); 6. Lance Cunigan (16:28.2); 7. Caleb Smith (16:30.0); 11. Charlie Slaughter (16:51.5).

NOTES
- The Jaguars were paced by Millenaar and Kemboi who both captured the individual titles in their respective 5K races.
- Millenaar crossed the line 30 seconds faster than the next closest runner. The title was the first of her career as she had twice finished second previously, both of which had been at previous Azalea City Classic meets.
- The cross country race was the first by Kemboi in a Jaguar uniform as he ran his first two cross country seasons at Florida A&M. The win also marked the first in his collegiate career at either school.
- The second-place finish by Cheruiyot marked the fourth time in seven races as a Jag that she has finished either first or second.
- Potgieter's second-place finish marked the fifth top 5 finish during his career at South.
- The South Alabama women swept the points taking home the top seven spots. The Jag men also had a strong showing picking up the first four spots and six of the top seven.
- Freshmen Gracie Ferguson (13th – 22:14.3) and Meredith Bass (16th – 22:33.2) saw their first collegiate action as they ran unattached for the Jag women. Freshman Gram Denning also ran unattached in the race finishing 17th with a time of 18:43.8.

THEY SAID IT
Head coach Parker Cowles
- On the women's performance: "The women came out pretty hard and they were aggressive. It's good to see that you have a team that wants to get after it. We have some things that we can work on, but it looks like we have a really talented and fun group. I was excited to see them run hard today."
- On the men's performance: "The men had a little more competition, but they performed very well today. I was very excited about their race. I thought that even at the back end of our top seven that some freshmen really stepped up and did some big things [for us]. The guys at the front end [of our lineup] really came back in good shape and ready to run. They are going to be an exciting team as well."

Junior Carolien Millenaar
- On starting off with a dominant performance: "It was a nice race. It was really hot today as it felt like 100 degrees. There wasn't really win out on the course. We've trained a lot on this course, so it felt a little bit like practice, but there was more excitement out there with the people standing along the course."
- On the team's performance taking home the top seven spots: "The season looks very promising for us. We have a lot of good freshmen [runners]. It's a completely different team [for us] this year. We have a lot of good girls and I'm very excited."

Junior Onesmus Kemboi
- On winning the race: "I feel the race was nice and a great way to start the season, and I'm ready for the rest of the season."

UP NEXT
- South Alabama will travel to Cartersville, Ga., to compete at 5th Annual Wingfoot Classic hosted by the Atlanta Track Club at Sam Smith Park.

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

Join the Finish Line Club, the track and field and cross country specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund.  All donations to the Finish Line Club go directly to support the South Alabama track and field/cross country programs.  For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/finishlineclub

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