Sears Sets Program Record as WXC Dominates Queen City Invite

Friday, October 13

Charlotte, N.C.

4:30 p.m.

Davidson College Athletics

Queen City Invite

Sears Sets Program Record as WXC Dominates Queen City Invite

10/13/2017 7:22:00 PM | Women's Cross Country

Results | DavidsonPhotos.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Davidson senior Sarah Sears posted the fastest women's cross country 5k in program history Friday at the Queen City Invite at McAlpine Park.

Sears paced a group of seven Wildcats in the top 10 to a team victory, registering just 19 points as a unit and averaging 17:24, 29 seconds faster than last year's meet at McAlpine. The Arlington, Va., native stopped the clock in 16:50, the first Davidson runner to break 17 minutes all-time. Caroline Sanker '09 held the previous record (17:05.0) set in 2007 at the Auburn Invitational.

Next up for the front running 'Cats were a pack of four led by junior Caroline Yarbrough. The Greensboro, N.C., native paced the group across the line in third, stopping the clock in 17:08, the third fastest time in program history. Fourth through sixth were sophomore Maddie Hunter (17:28), senior Laurel Sheffield (17:45) and Sierra Ponthier (17:49). All four posted PR's along with senior Allison Cheeseman (18:06), junior Sophia Mills (18:21) and sophomore Katie MacTurk (18:31). Sophomore Susannah Cate returned from an early season injury and turned in a solid performance, coming home in 18:24.

"Today was a great day to test our fitness on a fast course and the girls stepped up," said director of cross country/track and field Jen Straub. "Sarah [Sears] setting the program record and all the women stepping up to average 17:24 with so many personal bests … we couldn't ask for anything more!"

On deck for Davidson is the Atlantic 10 Championship on Saturday, Oct. 28 in Leesburg, Va. Start time from Oatlands Plantation is slated for 10:50 a.m.