Grimesland, N.C. – Four Western Carolina student-athletes recorded personal best times on Friday afternoon as the Catamounts competed in the Pirate Invitational hosted by East Carolina at Overton's Lake Kristi.
On the team leaderboard, the women's team finished eighth with the men's team in 10th.
Senior Lindsey Trotter turned in a new personal record time of 22:20.90, earning her a 25th-place finish. Sophomore Kate Mattison followed two finishing places behind with a time of 22:22.19. Trotter ran the fourth-fastest 6K time in school history, besting her previous mark of 22:32. Mattison has the fifth-fastest 6K time in program history, shattering her previous best of 25:35.37.
Sophomore Siena Gates finished in 45th with a new personal best of 22:52.23, topping her previous personal record of 23:28. Classmate Jamie Blaylock was the final Catamount to finish under the 23-minute mark with a 46th place result and a personal record time of 22:53.08. Senior Shawnda Martin finished in 68th at 23:27.92. Sophomore Caroline Schoessow placed 81st as she finished in 24:05.76. Junior Kayla Deaton finished 85th with a finishing time of 24:11.58. Freshman Maggie Klemm completed the race in 25:05.72 to finish in 97th. Freshman Lauren Esselborn crossed the finish line with a time of 26:09.83 to finish 110th.
On the men's side, senior Isaiah Hanna was the top finisher as he completed the 8K run with a time of 26:00.62 to finish in 50th. Senior Justin Tucker finished 58th with a time of 26:16.39 followed by classmate Tyler Robakiewicz in 74th at 26:44.57. Freshman Andrew Edney crossed the finish line in 79th with a time of 26:56.48. Senior Terry Young broke the tape with a time of 26:59.44 to finish in 81st. Junior Tyler White finished 104th with a time of 27:50.04 followed by sophomore Elijah Stuart in 111th at 28:16.37. Sophomore Fuad Hassan completed the race with a time of 31:20.37.
Coastal Carolina's Nadeel Wildschutt won the men's race with a time of 23:21.64. Duke was the men's team winner with 42 points. Elon won the women's event with a team score of 35. Scholastica Kemei of Elon was the individual winner with a time of 20:25.67.
Western Carolina will run for a Southern Conference title on Saturday, Nov. 2 in Johnson City, Tenn. The women's 5K race begins at 10 a.m. followed by the men's 8K race at 10:45 a.m.
