Reinhardt Women's Cross Country Earn Runner-Up Finish to Begin Year
September 1, 2017
By Mike DeVader, Reinhardt Director of Athletics Communications & Media
CANTON, Ga. – Eagle women's cross country got off to a fast start in the first race of the 2017 slate – the Reinhardt Cross Country Invitational – as they finished in second-place overall out of six competing teams and broke multiple records in the process.
Leading the way for the Eagles was Sophie Davis in fifth with a new school record finish in the 4K event with a time of 15:52. The next three Reinhardt finishers also crossed the line inside 20th-place out of 60 runners – Savanah Rice (10th at 16:08; personal best), Shelby Rensel (15th at 16:39) and Melanie Gerdes (19th at 17:00; a new PR).
"Our women's team had another successful runner-up performance as a team/ but was really excited to see a 50-second improvement in our one through five team-time this year compared to last," head coach Jordan Turner said. "We lost to a conference rival, but we will start the season much closer to them in terms of team time than we did last year, and that makes me excited for the season for these ladies.
"Once we are full strength we will only improve as a team. Sophie had a tremendous debut for us to take fifth, and in doing so she set a school record by taking 40 seconds off the old school record of 16:31 set by Shelby last year. I was thrilled for Savanah to get 10th-place as she has really worked hard this summer to come back in the best shape I have seen her."
Rounding out the top five for Reinhardt was Ansley Avera and her 21st-overall post at 17:02.
One week from now the squad will be headed to Cartersville, Ga., for the Stan Sims Invitational at 6 p.m.
For up-to-the-minute Eagles sports news, follow Reinhardt Athletics on Facebook, @RU_Eagles on Twitter and @ru_eagles on Instagram.
For more information on Reinhardt Women's Cross Country, please click here.
CANTON, Ga. – Eagle women's cross country got off to a fast start in the first race of the 2017 slate – the Reinhardt Cross Country Invitational – as they finished in second-place overall out of six competing teams and broke multiple records in the process.
Leading the way for the Eagles was Sophie Davis in fifth with a new school record finish in the 4K event with a time of 15:52. The next three Reinhardt finishers also crossed the line inside 20th-place out of 60 runners – Savanah Rice (10th at 16:08; personal best), Shelby Rensel (15th at 16:39) and Melanie Gerdes (19th at 17:00; a new PR).
"Our women's team had another successful runner-up performance as a team/ but was really excited to see a 50-second improvement in our one through five team-time this year compared to last," head coach Jordan Turner said. "We lost to a conference rival, but we will start the season much closer to them in terms of team time than we did last year, and that makes me excited for the season for these ladies.
"Once we are full strength we will only improve as a team. Sophie had a tremendous debut for us to take fifth, and in doing so she set a school record by taking 40 seconds off the old school record of 16:31 set by Shelby last year. I was thrilled for Savanah to get 10th-place as she has really worked hard this summer to come back in the best shape I have seen her."
Rounding out the top five for Reinhardt was Ansley Avera and her 21st-overall post at 17:02.
One week from now the squad will be headed to Cartersville, Ga., for the Stan Sims Invitational at 6 p.m.
For up-to-the-minute Eagles sports news, follow Reinhardt Athletics on Facebook, @RU_Eagles on Twitter and @ru_eagles on Instagram.
For more information on Reinhardt Women's Cross Country, please click here.