Gaston College cross country team finishes 10th in talent-laden Queens Challenge on Friday

Competing as the lone National Junior College Athletic Association team among the 17 teams that scored among a field of 168 runners, Gaston College continued to get experience in a season in which the Rhinos are pursuing their first Region 10 title.

Coach Kody Kubbs' Rhinos were led again by sophomore Keirieonna Wilson, who had her season's best time at Charlotte' McAlpine Creek 5,000-kilometer course. Gaston College competed in the Blue Division of the Royals Challenge hosted by NCAA Division I cross country power Queens University.

"I would say this is the toughest competition we've faced so it'll push a lot harder than we're used to," Wilson said after finishing 19th with a time of 20 minutes, 6.58 seconds. "You take it one race at a time and work to get better every week."

Following Wilson for the Rhinos were freshmen Lexi Birtwistle (60th in 21:22.34) and Maddie Frank (71st in 21:47.40), sophomores Abigale Harris (147th in 28:21.70) and Alayna Cook (156th in 30:23.25) and freshman Sara Scoggins (168th in 41:49.72).

Washington & Lee, a NCAA Division III power, won the team title with a score of 55 points and Sharon Ngetich of Shaw University was individual medalist with a time of 18:53.53.

NCAA Division II schools Georgia College (2nd), Montevallo (3rd), UVa-Wise (4th), Belmont Abbey (5th), Southern Wesleyan (6th), North Greenville (7th), Clayton State (8th), Lander (9th), Shaw (13th), Francis Marion (14th), Benedict (15th), Coker (16th) and Allen (17th) and NCAA Division III schools Brevard (11th) and Meredith (12th) rounded out the team standings.

"It's really cool to run against a talented field like this," Frank said. "It lets you see where you are."

Gaston College one more tuneup for the Region 10 championships when it runs in the Upstate Invitational in Spartanburg, S.C., next Saturday.

The Region 10 championships are Oct. 26 at the Cleveland Community College course in Shelby.