Mercer University
UAB Blazer Classic
Women Run Third, Men Eighth at Blazer Classic
10/16/2020 12:26:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Ashley McMahon and Zoe Sanchez each finished in the top-20. Freshman Joshua Kraver led the men.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Ashley McMahon and Zoe Sanchez led the Mercer women to a third-place finish at UAB on Friday. The Mercer men came home eighth.
MEN'S RACE (8K)
Running in his first collegiate race – Josh Kraver paced the Bears, coming home 43rd in the 8K. He was clocked at 25:54.74. Josiah Jaqua finished 52nd (26:11.88), and Fuad Batteh set a new personal record with a time of 26:16.78, placing him 56th among the runners. A pair of freshmen – Reece Cato and Mikey Patterson – were the fourth and fifth runners across the line for Mercer. Both were running their first collegiate meet. Cato finished 58th with a 26:22.70 with Patterson two spots behind in 60th. Patterson ran the race in 26:37.31.
Two other Bears – Vladi Zander-Velloso and Rob Zell – had sub 27-minute times. Velloso was clocked at 26:44.19 (64th) and Zell finished 73rd with a time of 26:57.54.
MEN'S RESULTS
43. Josh Kraver                     25:54.74
52. Josiah Jaqua                    26:11.88
56. Fuad Batteh                      26.16.78
58. Reece Cato                     26:22.70
60. Mikey Patterson               26.37.31
64.Vladi Zander-Velloso         26:44.19
73. Rob Zell                           26:57.54
89. Camden Abrams               28:07.69
92. Chris French                     28:32.48
95. Dalton Hollis                     28:51.24
WOMEN'S RACE (6K)
For the third time in as many races, Mercer's first three finishers remained unchanged. McMahon recorded her third consecutive top-20 finish with a 14th-place effort (22:33.37) while Sanchez also ran in the top-20. Sanchez came home 18th with a time of 23:05.89. Marina Van Sickle set a personal best with a time of 23:34.98, placing her 28th Giulia Giorgi (35th) and Whitney Johnson (41st) were the fourth and fifth Bears to cross the line, finishing in 23:56.87 and 24:27.04 respectively. Johnson trimmed more than a minute off her previous best time.
The women's average of 23:31 was the third best time in program history.Â
WOMEN'S RESULTS
14. Ashley McMahon              22:33.37
18. Zoe Sanchez                    23:05.89
28. Marina Van Sickle             23:34.98
35. Giulia Giorgi                     23:56.87
41. Whitney Johnson              24:27.04
46. Jerrica Hanson          24:36.70
54. Bri Teegarden                   24:58.89
66. Bella Rhone                      26:00.05
UP NEXT
The Bears will now turn their attention to the SoCon Championship, which is set for November 21 at the Georgia Premier Cross Country Course in Macon.
FOLLOW THE BEARS
For complete coverage of Mercer Cross Country, follow the team at @MercerXCTF (Twitter), /mercerxctf (Facebook) and @mercerbearsxctf (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.
Players Mentioned
