Men, Women Take Team Titles At MGA/Julius Johnson Invitational

Saturday, September 21

Macon, Ga.

8 a.m.

Mercer University

MGA/Julius Johnson Invitational

Women's XC at Julius Johnson Invitational

Men, Women Take Team Titles At MGA/Julius Johnson Invitational

9/21/2024 4:25:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country, Athletics Department

Women's 5K Race Men's 8K Race

MACON – The Mercer women's cross country team had the top eight finishers while the men's team placed six in the top ten at the MGA/Julius Johnson Invitational as the Bears secured both team titles in their home meet. Every runner for the Bears' men's team posted a personal best, while 11 members of the women's team recorded their personal best as well.

Freshman Reagan Cooke won her first collegiate race on Saturday with a time of 17:49.11, finishing 16 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Fellow Bears Emma James, Iris Porter and Paula Sandoval all finished with times under 18:10 to finish second through fourth, respectively. Annette Rodriguez-Olvera, Claire Bauer, Olivia Jones and Sarah Meyers finished in the five through eight positions to help Mercer to the win.

On the men's side, junior Yianni Pothalakis paced the Bears, finshing second with a time of 24:11.13. Buck Ledford, Jake Peters, Reece Cato and Zachary Burke all finished with sub-25 minute times as well for Mercer, finishing third through sixth, respectively. Will Herlihy also secured a top-ten finish with a time of 25:24.00.

The Bears will travel to Louisville, Kentucky on October 5 for their next meet, the Live in the Lou Classic. The event will be hosted by the University of Louisville at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer Park.

MGA/Julius Johnson Invitational (September 21)
WOMEN'S 5K		MEN'S 8K
*Winner: Reagan Cooke (Mercer, 17:49.11)*		Winner: Brian Kemei (Morehouse, 24:04.19)
1	! Reagan Cooke, 17:49.11	2	! Yianni Pothalakis, 24:11.13
2	! Emma James, 18:05.54	3	! Buck Ledford, 24:25.06
3	! Iris Porter, 18:08.18	4	! Jake Peters, 24:42.05
4	! Paula Sandoval, 18:09.09	5	! Reece Cato, 24:44.33
5	! Annette Rodriguez-Olvera, 18:15.28	6	! Zachary Burke, 24:48.19
6	! Claire Bauer, 18:16.72	10	! Will Herlihy, 25:24.00
7	! Olivia Jones, 18:20.72	12	! Chinmay Dongari, 25:36.60
8	! Sarah Myers, 18:25.29	13	! Sebasthian Rodriguez, 25:49.29
12	! Abbie Kallbreier, 18:44.48	14	! Peyton Millwood, 25:49.44
15	! Mackenzie Crowe, 19:13.09	15	! Nick Frye, 25:51.00
25	! Penny Jackson, 20:04.34	17	! Will Nash, 26:11.93
26	Emily Ireland, 20:07.97	18	! Hagan Russell, 26:11.99
72	Mackenzie Crowe, 20:25.89
! = Personal Best