University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss
Conference USA Championships
Southern Miss Cross Country Finish Fourth at C-USA Championship
10/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field/Cross Country
CHARLOTTE, NC. -- The Southern Miss women's cross country team placed fourth at the 2016 Conference USA Championship on Saturday at Frank Liske Park in Charlotte, North Carolina.
"I was proud of the effort we had as group today," Cross Country Coach Aaron Kindt said. "It was battle right up until the finish line and our ladies showed a lot of heart out there"
This finish tied the Southern Miss school record. Southern Miss placed fourth overall with 109 points. Rice captured the women's title with a score of 48 followed by Middle Tennessee with 89, UTEP with 100, Southern Miss with 109, and Charlotte with 116. Winny Koech from UTEP won the individual title with a time of 16:56.6.
"We are happy with the girl's performances," Head Coach Jon Stuart said. "They warmed up well and did a good job competing in a tough field. It was an excellent race with very good competition."
Senior Dana Dillistone led the Golden Eagles with a 17th finish in a time of 18:00.06 in covering the 5K race. The finish garnered Dillistone third team All-Conference accolades.
Senior Daphney Stanford was the second Golden Eagle to cross the finish line with a time of 18:01.7. Her 18th place finish allowed her to make third team All-Conference honors while freshman Theresa Harto ran a time of 18:06.3 to place 21st and earn third team All-Conference.
Monika Gebarzewska ran a time of 18:10.9, finishing top 25. Victoria Hoppe ran a time of 18:31.9.Courtney Filliben finished with a time of 18:44.4. Savannah McMillon ran the 5k in 19:00.4.
The Golden Eagles will get a week off of competition to prepare for the NCAA South Regional in Tallahassee, Florida, on November 11, 2016.
Cross Country Coach Aaron Kindt Quotes:
"Dana again set the tone for our team. So much of our race plan as a group has revolved around her this year. It's a role she has never had to take on in her first three years and she has been tremendous. Although not quite the day she wanted, today showed just how far she's come and what still in store this year. I'm really excited to watch Dana these next few weeks and months to come."
"Daphney, after a tough season battling illness, came back and finished strong for us. She has maintained an unselfish attitude throughout her recovery putting aside her personal goals and just doing what was best for her teammates. That performance today, though not her PR, in my opinion was the best race she's run in her 4 years at Southern Miss."
"Theresa continued her breakout freshman campaign. Her consistency and competitiveness has been a huge addition to this team. Finishing with All Conference honors in her first season, is a result I would not have expected the start of this season."
"Monika and Victoria did a great job competing as well. Vicky probably spent 4K of the race not in our top 5 but continued to chip away and she helped seal the teams fourth place finish."
"Overall there are a lot of things to be happy about. The focus of the group is to be in the Top 3 of the conference and close that gap between us and UTEP, and I think we are inching towards being there."
Coach Jon Stuart Quote:
"We expected the C-USA championship meet to bring out our best, and the ladies did not disappoint. Coach Kindt had the team well prepared and we ran an excellent race. This season has the ladies believing that we belong at the top of the conference."
