The top scoring five of Salem College averaged a season low 23:02 for the 5000 meter distance. Rachel Fichthorn (Nokesville, VA) won the overall individual Division III title with a 21:11, bettering her season best by 8 seconds. This marks the fourth time in five races this season that Fichthorn has won that honor. "Rachel has become the woman to beat in North Carolina Division III competition. It won’t be easy to overtake her,” according to Coach Widner. “She’s a great leader for our team and a product of hard work ethic.”
Lauren Meek of Draper, VA set a career best record by racing to a 21:36 time, finishing 42 seconds faster than last week on the same course. Her time also broke her high school record by 18 seconds, almost one year ago today. “This was an important day for Lauren,” stated Coach Widner. “One of her goals this year was to break her high school personal best. Lauren still has three more races, and she’s showing no signs of slowing down.”
Julie Bigsby (Salisbury, NC) sprinted down the stretch to finish in 24:01, her collegiate best as a freshman. “Julie’s tough in that last 400 meters. Her high school experience as an 800 meter runner paid off as she passed many opponents in the final stretch.”
Mae Sanders (Winston-Salem), a continuing education student at Salem College, continues to amaze her friends, family and colleagues. After nursing a nagging calf injury for the past two weeks, Mae raced to a 24:04 time, bettering last week’s time by over 2 minutes. Being 39 years old and a mother of two doesn’t stop Sanders from excelling for the Salem College Cross Country Team.
Rachel Aderholdt (North Augusta, GA) ran a 25:03 to round out the Spirits top five. Ariel Barker (Monroe, NC) ran a season best time of 25:24, and Veronica Tremblay finished her first collegiate race in 28:03.
The Spirit Harriers will return to action next weekend at the Hagan Stone Cross Country Classic held at Hagan Stone Park. Race time is 10:15 am.