University of South Carolina Upstate Athletics
Charlotte Invitational
Kemboi, Chelulei Record Top Three Finishes at Charlotte Invitational
10/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Oct. 2, 2009
Men's Individual Results
Men's Team Results
Women's Individual Results
Women's Team Results
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The USC Upstate men's and women's cross country teams turned in a pair of strong team performances on Friday afternoon at the Charlotte Invitational. Gilbert Kemboi and Carolyne Chelulei set school records while several others recorded personal bests.
The women harriers finished third overall at the 23 team event. Upstate (125 points) finished behind Charlotte (47) who won the event and second place Clemson (55). Rounding out the top five on the women's side were South Carolina (150) and Western Carolina (179).
Carolyne Chelulei finished third in the race that featured 209 total runners. The sophomore turned in a time of 17:31.40 which is a personal-best as well as an Upstate school record in the 5k.
Jemeli Sang also finished in the top 10 at the Charlotte Invitational. Sang posted a personal-best 17:39.60 en route to an eighth-place finish. Two other Spartans recorded personal-bests on Friday. Joan Tangwar finished 20th after a time of 18:22.80, while teammate Lauren Walker finished 25th with a meet time of 18:39.60.
"Our women's team ran strong today, our goal was a top three finish and that's right where we finished," said assistant cross country coach Carson Blackwelder. "I was proud of the girl's effort this afternoon as several of them set a personal record including Carolyne setting a school record."
Emily Tangwar recorded an 82nd-place finish with a meet time of 19:49.80. Rounding out the meet for the Spartans were Laura Transue (20:37.3) and Jillian Finney (25:15.60), the pair finished 129th and 204th respectively.
The men's team recorded a total of 148 points earning them a fourth place finish. Finishing ahead of the Spartans were Charlotte (62), Clemson (89) and UNC Greensboro (103). Rounding out the top five was College of Charleston who tallied 151 points.
Leading the Spartan charge was Gilbert Kemboi. Kemboi ran a personal-best 24:28.40 which is also a school record in the 8k. Kemboi's second place finish, against a field of 198 runners, was his second of the season and has finished in first or second in every meet this season.
Like the women's team, the men had four individuals set personal-bests on Friday afternoon. David Dennison finished with a personal-best 26:13.20, earning him a 33rd-place finish. Also setting personal-bests were Matt Henderson who finished 38th with a time of 26:19.60 and Cameron Thomas who finished 54th with a meet time of 26:43.20.
The Spartans had two others finish in the top 55 at the meet. Christian Ritacco finished 46th with a time of 26:32.60, just three seconds off from his career best time. James Jackson finished 55th overall after a time of 26:43.40.
Rounding out the race for the Spartans were Dylan Taylor and Dustin Thomas. Taylor posted a time of 32:08.00 en route to a 178th place finish, while Dustin Thomas recorded a time of 33:37.60 and a 188th place finish.
"I was proud of the effort our men's team gave today," said head cross country coach Jimmy Stephens. "We were anticipating a top four or five finish and that's right where we were. We have one more meet to prepare ourselves for the conference championships at the end of the month, but I am very proud of the progress the men's team has made so far."
Upstate will take a break from action until Oct. 17 when they host the USC Upstate Cross Country Invitational at Milliken Research Park.
