Hempstead, N.Y. – The Georgia State men’s and women’s cross country teams claimed third at the Colonial Athletic Association Championships on Friday, October 26. Rachel Hannah, a senior from Barrie, Ontario, won the women’s 6k race with a time of 21:28.4, garnering her CAA Individual Champion. Senior Jay Morrill led the men’s team placing ninth with a time of 25:08 on the 8k course earning him All-CAA honors.
Georgia State women’s team earned 81 points for their third place victory, 41 points behind first place William & Mary. James Madison claimed second with 50 points, while Delaware and Northeastern rounded out the top-five with 127 and 133 points respectively.
Three women earned CAA All-Conference honors by placing in the top-12, first place senior Rachel Hannah, freshman Rebecca Hallam and sophomore Caitlin Price. Hallam was the first freshman of the meet to cross the finish line, placing her ninth with a time of 22:20.6. Price finished 11th overall with a time of 22:25.2. Ashley King and Janel Blancett also ran well for the Panthers, placing 34th and 36th for Georgia State’s third place finish.
“We had a great showing at conference this year,” said women’s head coach Jessica Raby. “Three of our girls made All-CAA honors and I have a feeling our best race is still to come at the Regionals.”
Hannah’s win is the first individual CAA Championship title in Panther history, since entering the conference three years ago. The last woman to win a conference championship was Jenn Feenstra in 2004 at the Atlantic Sun Championships.
Georgia State men’s team placed third with 96 points, 39 points behind second place George Mason. William & Mary finished their seven runners in the top-eight, earning them 16 points and the Championship win. Delaware and Hofstra placed fourth and fifth consecutively, with 155 and 165 points.
Senior Jay Morrill was the only Georgia State men’s runner to receive CAA All-Conference honors at this year’s event. Loris Hutterli placed 17th with a time of 25.30, just 22 seconds after Morrill’s ninth place finish. Zaven O'Bryant was the 23rd runner and third Panther to cross the 8k finish line at 25:51.2. Rabah Syed and Shawn Matthews finished 35th and 36th, helping the Panthers with a strong third place finish.
“I am very pleased with the way we ran,” said program director and men’s coach John Rowland. “We were seeded third and placed third, so it was a good meet. Jay ran great and extended our three year tradition of having a runner earn All-CAA honors.”
The Panthers next compete in the NCAA South Regional meet hosted by the University of Florida in Gainesville, on November 10th.
Georgia State Men Top Seven
Place, Name, Class, Time, Points
9, Jay Morrill, Sr., 25:08.3, 9
17, Loris Hutterli, Jr., 25:30, 12
23, Zaven O'Bryant, Jr., 25:51.2, 18
35, Rabah Syed, So., 26:10.2, 28
36, Shawn Matthews, Jr., 26:14.3, 29
41, Nicholas Miller, Sr., 26:17.5, 34
46, Dustin Murphy, Fr., 26:33.9, 38
Georgia State Women Top Seven
Place, Name, Class, Time, Points
1, Rachel Hannah, Sr., 21:28.4, 1
9, Rebecca Hallam, Fr., 22:20.6, 9
11, Caitlin Price, So., 22:25.2, 11
34, Ashley King, Sr., 23:12.8, 31
36, Janel Blancett, So., 23:17.5, 31
52, Alex Friel, Sr., 23:58.2, 45
56, Stephanie Poore, Jr., 24:06, 47
