Sept. 10, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - For the fifth-straight year No. 13 Penn State women's cross country team claimed the Harry Groves Spiked Shoe team title winning this year's meet, topping nationally ranked teams No. 15 Syracuse and No. 19 Georgetown Saturday afternoon at the Blue-White Golf Course.
Penn State placed four runners in the top-10 led by Tessa Barrett who claimed individual honors making this her second win of the year in as many meets to open the 2016 season with back-to-back wins following last weeks Dolan Duals. The redshirt-sophomore from Waverly, Pa. finished the 6K in 20:31 smashing the meet record of 20:52 set by Katie Jazwinski of Michigan in 2000
Barrett becomes the seventh Nittany Lion to claim the individual title and marks the ninth time Penn State has grabbed the top spot. The Nittany Lions have now won 10-of-16 Spiked Shoe Invitational's since 2000.
Rounding out scoring for the Nittany Lions behind Barrett, a 2015 NCAA cross country All-American, were Elizabeth Chikotas (20:53), Jillian Hunsberger (21:13), Kathryn Munks (21:29), and Greta Lindsley (22:03) in second, fourth, 10th and 20th-place, respectively.
Chikotas' time ranks as the third-fastest time in Spiked Shoe Invitational history just a second behind the aforementioned Jazwinski. Also competing for Penn State were Victoria Crawford (22:13) and Rachel Banks (23:08) in 24th and 33rd-place.
The Penn State men's team was led by Tim McGowan who was the top finisher for the Nittany Lions in fifth-place (26:34.4). Rounding out scoring for Penn State were Bobby Hill (27:28.3), John McGowan (27:30.7), Jaxson Hoey (27:46.5) and Colin Abert (28:48.4) in 26th, 27th, 33rd and 55th-place, respectively.
The Nittany Lions will travel to Minneapolis, MN for the 31st Annual Roy Griak Invite at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights Sept. 24.
For more on Nittany Lion cross country, log onto www.GoPSUsports.com or follow the team on Twitter @PennStateTFXC.