Men's and Women's Cross Country Take Team Wins at Home Meet

Saturday, September 16

Macon, Ga.

7:45 a.m.

Mercer University

MGA/Julius Johnson Invitational

Men's and Women's Cross Country Take Team Wins at Home Meet

9/16/2023 4:30:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Athletics Department

2023 MGA Julius Johnson Invitational Results

MACON - Mercer cross country hosted the Julius Johnson/MGA Invitational on Saturday, bringing home the win in both the men's and women's team competition. The women posted a perfect score of 15 with Kamila Soja crossing the line first in the 5k with a time of 18:39.46. Josh Kraver finished second overall in the men's 8k with a time of 25:34.31.

Head Coach Josh Hayman was thrilled with both teams' performances. He says, "The weather helped make the conditions about as fast as possible" and that many runners, including senior Kraver who has run the course every year of his college career, recorded their best time at Georgia Premier.

Looking ahead to the nationally-prominent Paul Short Run at the end of this month and championship season only one month away, Hayman is proud to say that "both teams are record-setting right now" and has high hopes for what is ahead.

Today's invitational was the best fan turnout Mercer has had for a home meet. The team was able to have more supporters attend than can travel to other meets across the east coast. Some of those in attendance also competed in a community and alumni 5k on the course after the conclusion of the college races.

The Bears' next race will be on September 30 at 6 p.m. in Bethlehem, Pa. for the Paul Short Run hosted by Lehigh.

JULIUS JOHNSON/MGA INVITATIONAL (SEPTEMBER 16)
WOMEN'S 5K		MEN'S 8K
*Winner: Kamila Soja, Mercer (18:39.46)*		Winner: Brian Kemei, Morehouse (25:23.13)
1	Kamila Soja, 18:39.46	2	Josh Kraver, 25:34.31
2	Patrycja Miazek, 18:50.43	3	! Buck Ledford, 25:53.40
3	Bri Teegarden, 19:09.27	4	Jonathan Greene, 26:15.13
4	Annette Rodriguez-Olvera, 19:47.89	5	Yianni Pothalakis, 26:18.83
5	Olivia Jones, 19:51.74	6	Reece Cato, 26:20.32
7	Iris Porter, 20:17.85	7	Henning Kunze, 26:27.45
10	Sarah Myers, 20:30.50	8	Zachary Burke, 26:43.28
12	Reese Robertson, 20:50.37	9	Nick Frye, 26:43.72
21	Penny Jackson, 22:03.95	11	Chinmay Dongari, 26:58.41
		12	Sebasthian Rodriguez, 27:17.57
		13	! Will Nash, 27:21.91
		17	River Livingston, 27:59.03
		22	Peyton Millwood, 28:44.80
! = Personal Best