University of North Carolina Athletics
Alcorta & Ilse Earn All-ACC Honors
October 27, 2017 | Cross Country
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Junior Morgan Ilse earned All-ACC honors for the second time in her career and Caroline Alcorta earned the distinction for the third time as the two finished 11th (20:26.3) and 12th (20:27.6), respectively, at the 2017 ACC Cross Country Championships in Louisville, Ky. Friday. The men's and women's squads both finished 11th in the meet.
"[Alcorta and Ilse] have both dealt with some adversity over the last year, and I'm really proud of them for overcoming it and getting themselves into the mix at ACCs," head coach Mark VanAlstyne said. "I know that both of them will be a little disappointed with their places today, but to be All-ACC that many times is special for them. I'm happy for them, but I know that their going to come back full of fire at southeast regionals looking for a bid at nationals."
The duo ran aggressively from the start, jumping out to the front at the gun and sticking with the lead pack through the first two kilometers. The leaders would eventually separate, but Alcorta, a native of Springfield, Va., and Ilse, a native of Dunwoody, Ga., stuck together and kept pushing one another down the stretch.
"It's not what I think we were both hoping for," Alcorta said. "But at the same time it was a really tough race and looking back it really helped having Morgan at least in my line of sight and then right next to me."
Due to injuries, Alcorta and Ilse weren't able to consistently practice or race together until this fall despite being on the team together for two years.
"Having her next to me helps push me a lot and helps me do better," Ilse said. "Having a partner like that has been really helpful; and definitely the reason we were both able to do well today, I think is because we were both side by side and racing for each other."
To round out the scoring on the women's side Mady Clahane finished 71st in 21:56.9, Erin Edmundson finished 73rd in 21:58.6 and Casey Greenwalt finished 88th in 22:21.7.
Jeremy Brown continues to lead the Tar Heels on the men's side as he finished 50th in 24:35.4. Logan Carroll finished 64th in 24:49.5, Jake McEneaney finished 73rd in 25:03.4, Mitch Resor finished 77th in 25:09.4 and Matt Thornton finished 78th in 25:09.8.
The Syracuse men won their fifth ACC title in as many years since joining the league. The Orange were led by All-American Justyn Knight who successfully defended his 2016 title, winning the meet in 23:13.0. Syracuse placed five runners in the top 10, scoring 27 points.Â
The NC State women also defended their 2016 title by placing four in the top 10 and scoring 43 points. Paige Stoner of Syracuse won the women's race in 19:52.0.
Next Up: The Tar Heels head to Charlottesville, Va. on Nov. 10 for the NCAA Southeast Regional looking for bids to come back to E.P. Tom Sawyer Park in Louisville, Ky. for the NCAA Championships.
Carolina Women (6k) - 11th of 15 with 244 points
Morgan Ilse, 20:26.3, 11th
Caroline Alcorta, 20:27.6, 12th
Mady Clahane, 21:56.9, 71st
Erin Edmundson, 21:58.6, 73rd
Casey Greenwalt, 22:21.7, 88th
Lindsey Lanier, 22:28.8, 93rd
Emma Astrike-Davis, 22:35.5, 97th
Ashley Smith, 23:03.8, 114th
Blake Dodge, 23:05.2, 115th
Carolina Men (8k) - 11th of 15 with 315 points
Jeremy Brown, 24:35.4, 50th
Logan Carroll, 24:49.5, 64th
Jake McEneaney, 25:03.4, 73rd
Mitch Resor, 25:09.4, 77th
Matt Thornton, 25:09.8, 78th
Mark Myers, 25:10.6, 79th
Brodie Modini, 25:34.0, 95th
Luke Peterson, 25:57.3, 109th
Brandon Tubby, DNF
