Aug. 31, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Led by senior Luis Orta’s second consecutive victory at the Belmont Opener, the University of Kentucky men’s and women’s cross country teams started their seasons off on a similar, yet positive, note, both claiming a second-place finish Friday night at Vaughn’s Creek Course in Percy Warner Park for the Belmont Opener in Nashville, Tenn.
Orta, a native of Caracas, Venezuela, claimed another victory in his impressive cross country career to start off his senior year. The first team All-Southeastern Conference selection and three-time SEC Runner of the Week honoree in 2011, won the inaugural cross country meet of the season for a third consecutive year. Orta won the San Francisco Invitational to open the 2010 season and the Belmont-VU Opener in 2011.
After a first-place finish at the 2011 Belmont-VU Opener, the Kentucky men’s team earned a second-place finish, earning 74 points. Tennessee took first in the men’s 5K event.
Matt Hillenbrand (15:28.70) also finished in the top 10 for the Wildcats, earning a sixth-place finish while Mackay Wilson (16:00.40) finished the event in 17th. James Brown (16:19.00) finished 29th and Robbie Scharold (16:19.80) crossed the finish line in 32nd.
Led by Cally Macumber and Chelsea Oswald, the Kentucky women placed second in the 4K event with 34 points, finishing just one point behind Vanderbilt. Hannah Jumper of Vanderbilt took first individually, followed closely by Macumber in second and Oswald in third.
Macumber finished her first race of the year just two seconds off Jumper, claiming a second-place finish with a final time of 14:11.10. Macumber posted an average mile pace of 5:42.5, only .8 off the leader’s average. Oswald earned a third-place finish after finishing the event in 14:24.60.
Allison Peare and Hiruni Wijayaratne also made appearances in the top 10 as Peare (14:51.20) earned an eighth-place finish and Wijayaratne (14:57.40) crossed the finish line in 10th. Anna Bostrom finished just behind Wijayaratne in 11th with a time of 15:04.40. Taylor Wendler (15:17.20) finished in 15th while Megan Wright (15:28.10) rounded out the Wildcats in the top 20 with a 19th-place finish.
The Wildcats will compete again Sept. 22 at the Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational in Charlottesville, Va. For all Kentucky cross country news and notes, go to UKathletics.com.
Belmont Opener
Vaughn’s Creek Course | Percy Warner Park
Nashville, Tenn. | Aug. 31, 2012
Men’s Team Results (5K):
1. Tennessee – 50 points
2. Kentucky – 74 points
3. Belmont – 86 points
4. Kennesaw State – 113 points
5. Western Kentucky – 124 points
6. Middle Tennessee – 144 points
7. Nashville Harriers – 169 points
8. Vanderbilt – 171 points
9. Lipscomb – 214 points
Women’s Team Results (4K):
1. Vanderbilt – 33 points
2. Kentucky – 34 points
3. Belmont – 82 points
4. Tennessee – 93 points
5. Western Kentucky – 139 points
6. Kennesaw State – 176 points
7. Lipscomb – 213 points
8. Middle Tennessee – 222 points
Kentucky Men’s Individual Results (overall finish):
(1) Luis Orta – 15:16.70
(6) Matt Hillenbrand – 15:37.30
(17) Mackay Wilson – 16:00.40
(29) James Brown – 16:19.00
(32) Robbie Scharold – 16:19.80
(35) Adam Kahleifeh – 16:23.60
(42) Jared Phillips – 16:30.10
(50) Jake Wildenmann– 16:43.50
(52) Justin House – 16:47.50
Kentucky Women’s Individual Results (overall finish):
(2) Cally Macumber – 14:11.10
(3) Chelsea Oswald – 14:25.60
(8) Allison Peare – 14:51.20
(10) Hiruni Wijayaratne – 14:57.40
(11) Anna Bostrom – 15:04.40
(15) Taylor Wendler – 15:17.20
(19) Megan Wright – 15:28.10
(32) Katherine Doyle – 16:01.00
(36) Mary Kate Ponder – 16:05.40
(48) Katy Achtien– 16:24.70
