Gaston College cross country team finishes 23rd in the nation

Gaston College's cross country team finished 23rd in Saturday afternoon's National Junior College Athletic Association national championship meet at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Va.

It was the first time in program history the Rhinos have competed in the NJCAA nationals as a team - and only the fifth time any sport in Gaston College history has competed in the national championships.

"Today was an amazing experience for all seven of our Rhinos runners!" Rhinos head coach Kody Kubbs said. "Obviously it was an incredibly competitive field and our young ladies ran really well.
"Four of our ladies set personal records (PRs) and (Keirieonna) Wilson was only four seconds off her already established school record. Maddie Frank, Abby King, Abigale Harris and Alayna Cook all ran PRs today.
"It was amazing for our ladies to get to run with other competitors from throughout the United States into compete on the national level here in Richmond, Virginia. I am so incredibly proud of each and everyone of them and the season they put together!"

Wilson, who finishes her career as the school's individual medalist in all 10 meets in which she competed in her two-year career, finished the 5-kilometer course in 19 minutes, 34.9 seconds. It was good for a 67th overall finish among the 184 runners in the field.

Wilson was followed by freshmen Maddie Frank (20:37.4 for 110th), freshman Lexi Birtwistle (21:17.0 for 137th), sophomore Abbygale King (24:49.6 for 174th), sophomore Abigale Harris (26:51.4 for 179th), sophomore Alayna Cook (28:54.7 for 180th) and freshman Sara Scoggins (41:59.4 for 184th).

Salt Lake won the team championship with a score of 55 that featured five individual finishes of 19th or better. Gaston College's 23rd finish was a team score of 601, with Wilson scoring 61, Frank 99, Birtwistle 123, King 157 and Harris 161.

The individual medalist was Odessa's Elizabeth Ilanda with a time of 17 minutes, 8 seconds.

Kubbs' Rhinos two weeks ago won the school's first Region 10 championship in Shelby.

And on Tuesday, Wilson, Birtwistle, Frank and King will compete in the NJCAA's Half Marathon championship at Dorey Park in Richmond, Va.