ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech women’s cross country team used four top 15 finishes to defeat host Georgia State and win the Georgia State Invitational on Saturday morning. The Yellow Jacket men’s team placed fourth in their respective race.
Tech’s women’s harriers were led by freshman Christine Noelke (Wilmington, N.C.), who turned in her top performance of the year, finishing sixth with a time of 19:35 over the 5K circuit. Joining Noelke in the top 10 was sophomore Eboni Crosby (Aurora, Colo.), who placed eighth in a time of 19:42.
Tech finished with 28 points, edging Georgia State’s team total of 36.
Freshman Elizabeth Bulat (Moorestown, N.J.) was the third Yellow Jacket in the top 15, finishing 11th in 19:59, she was followed by junior Ashley Espy (Summerville, N.J.) in 12th with a time of 20:07.
Rounding out the Tech contingent were freshman Neta Ezer (Plainsboro, N.J.) in 21st at 20:47, and senior Elizabeth Greene (Whitesburg, Ga.) in 48th at 22:56.
The Tech men’s team finished the day with 91 points, good for fourth place, but well off the pace of team champion Georgia State, which finished with 30 points.
Junior Matt O’Brien led the Jackets by finishing 19th with a time of 27:55. He was followed by rookie Daniel Moss (Alpharetta, Ga.), in 32nd place with a time of 28:37. Also in the top 50 in the event were junior Jared McGehee (Richardson, Texas) in 48th at 29:22 and freshman Billy Simpson (Mtn. Home, Ark.) in 50th at 29:25.
The remaining Yellow Jackets in the field included sophomore Ashton Manley (Lake City, Ga.) in 70th with a time of 30:26 and senior Jason Grier (Kennesaw, Ga.) in 79th at 30:39.
Tech will be in action next weekend, when it returns to the same course to compete in the Georgia Intercollegiate on Saturday, October 7.
