KERNERSVILLE, N.C. – Top finishes by a pair of first-year athletes highlighted the Elon University cross country teams' day at the VertKlasse XC Invitational on Friday evening, Oct. 14, at the Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex.
 
Freshman Molly Offstein led the Phoenix women in the 6K race with her time of 22:48.55 and a 39^th-place standing out of 207 competitors. In the men's race, fellow rookie Ian Mickool took top honors for the Elon men after clocking a 26:18.37 – a new personal-best – in the 8K race and finished 54^th out of 234 runners. Overall, the Phoenix men finished 14^th as a team out of 22 programs.
 
Women's Recap
Elon only had four women compete in the 6K race failing to score as a full team. Corey Weiss was next to cross the finish line for the maroon and gold after she ran a 23:24.43 and was 63^rd overall. Grace Dellapa was next to follow with her time of 23:37.61 while Alicia DeCastro rounded out the Phoenix times with a 24:17.40.
 
Men's Recap
Cooper Jansson came along the line next for the Phoenix in the men's race as the sophomore ran a 27:08.60 in his first collegiate 8K. Junior Justin Leopold was next with a time of 27:11.86 with teammate and fellow junior Carlos Andino right behind him with a 27:11.91. Josh Kruppa was not too far behind the pair with his performance of 27:15.82 to round out the top-five scores.
 
Up Next
Elon completes its weekend with the NCAA Pre-National meet tomorrow, Oct. 15, in Terre Haute, Ind.