Women's Cross Country Sets Season Best at Season Opener
The Union County College Women's Cross Country team, of one, took to the course for the first time this season on Saturday, October 12, at the inaugural Golden Eagle Invitational; held in Bethpage State Park, on Long Island.
October 12, 2019
BETHPAGE, NY- The Union County College Women's Cross Country team, of one, took to the course for the first time this season on Saturday, October 12, at the inaugural Golden Eagle Invitational; held in Bethpage State Park, on Long Island.
Sophia De Andrade, Union's sole female cross country runner, made her collegiate debut and represented the Owls, finishing the rolling, and slightly hilly, 5,000 meter (3.1 mile) cross country course in 29:04; establishing both a personal record as well as a UCC 2019 women's season best. Sophia finished 123rd out of 150 runners. Unlike the vast majority of other runners in the field though, Sophia ran solo, without the support of any teammates.
While Saturday marked Sophia's competitive debut for the season, she has been training diligently since September in preparing to compete. "Sophia has shown tremendous dedication towards her training over the past six weeks," said Alec Moore, Head Coach of Men's and Women's Cross Country. "This is just the beginning for her though and I've no doubt we're going to see her times drop considerably before the season ends."
Sophia will again represent the Owls next week at the 6,000 meter (3.7 mile) Inter-Regional Border Battle meet, in South Jersey, hosted by Rowan University.