Women's Cross Country Takes First In Season Opener

Friday, September 25

Charlottesville, Va.

5:15 PM

North Carolina

Virginia Invite (Virginia, Wake Forest)

Led by freshman Sasha Neglia, the Tar Heel women won the Virginia Invite on Friday.

Photo by: UVA MEDIA RELATIONS

September 25, 2020 | Cross Country

Virginia Invite - Women's Results Virginia Invite - Men's Results

By: UNC Athletic Communications

Freshman Sasha Neglia finished first, senior Paige Hofstad was second and six Tar Heels were among the top nine runners as the UNC women's cross country team started the season off with a win on Friday at the Virginia Invite. Racing at Panorama Farms in Earlysville, Va., on a rainy, chilly evening, the eight Carolina competitors finished in an average time of 17:19.74, faster than the time of any runner from Virginia or Wake Forest, which rounded out the tri-meet.

The Tar Heels finished with 21 points, followed by the host Cavaliers with 38 and Wake Forest with 77.

In the men's race, which followed the women's, the Tar Heels were third. Leading the way for UNC was freshman Will Coogan, who placed seventh overall in 24:24.0. Graduate transfer Thomas Ratcliffe was right behind Coogan in eighth place with a time of 24:29.8. Virginia placed first in the men's race with 26 points, with four of the top six finishers including junior Rohann Asfaw, who was first in 24:03.1. Wake Forest took second with 49 points and UNC was close behind with 52.

Hofstad, a 2019 NCAA qualifier, continued her outstanding performances as a Tar Heel, and UNC's freshman class showed off its strength in the debut. Neglia, Taryn Parks (12^th) and Sarah Trainor (9^th) all were top 50 recruits, with Kelsey Harrington (6^th) a Foot Locker Cross Country finalist, along with Parks.

On the men's side, the race was the Carolina debut for true freshmen Coogan and Max DiMuccio (16^th), as well as redshirt freshmen Dolan Owens (28^th) and Michael Spragley (32^nd), and grad transfer Ratcliffe, who placed third in the NCAA Outdoor 5K in 2019 while at Stanford.

Virginia Invite
Earlysville, Va.
Panorama Farms

Women's 5K Results – UNC
1. Sasha Neglia, Fr., 17:01.4
2. Paige Hofstad, Sr., 17:15.7
4. Mady Clahane, Sr., 17:22.3
6. Kelsey Harrington, Fr., 17:28.0
8. Emmeline Fisher, Sr., 17.31.3
9. Sarah Trainor, Fr., 17.31.6
12. Taryn Parks, Fr., 17:41.2
21. Camryn Petit, Jr., 18:17.5

Men's 8K Results – UNC
7. Will Coogan, Fr., 24:24.0
8. Thomas Ratcliffe, Gr., 24:29.8
11. Jesse Hunt, Jr., 24:42.8
12. Marshall Williamson, So., 24:43.4
14. John Tatter, Jr., 24:47.2
16. Max DiMuccio, Fr., 24:53.7
28. Dolan Owens, Fr., 25:44.3
29. Jake McEneaney, Jr., 25:44.6
32. Michael Spragley, Fr., 26:04.6
33. Ian Moini, Jr., 26:08.7
Patrick Anderson, Fr., DNF