Viscusi Second, Mars Hill Third at Charlotte Invitational

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Senior Jessica Viscusi continued the strong start to her 2014 campaign with a runner-up finish in the non-Division I portion of the Charlotte Invitational on Friday. As a team, the Lions earned a third place result and demolished the previous school record team average time with a new mark of 24:01.2. The previous mark of 24:48 was set at the Furman Invitational on September 13.

Viscusi crossed the finish line on the 6-kilometer course in 22:17.6 for her second consecutive second place finish. The Bryson City, N.C. native was the runner-up at the Furman Invitational on October 13. Classmate Faith Trammell scored a 10^th place result, finishing in 23:17.

Freshman Kaleigh Jackson finished in 33^rd place (24:38.4), with senior Anje Kidd (24:50.4) and sophomore Megan Smith (25:53.7) finishing together in 37^th and 38^th. Junior Shelby Robinson came home in 55^th place (25:29.9), with classmate Savannah Hulbert closing out Mars Hill's scoring positions with a 61^st place effort (25:49.3).

Other Lion competitors included Dawn Radford (27:20.5), Kierstyn Horton (27:35.5), Bianca Pereira (27:50), Andrea Wolfrey (28:03.5), Leah Wilson (28:26.9), Vanessa Viscusi (28:27.4), Carey Shields (28:34.5), Danielle Dunn (28:40.7), Jessica Scott (31:03.3), Abbey Nichols (31:29.7), Cynthia Griffin (32:08) and Jeri Martin (33:17.2). 

SCAD Savannah was the team winner with 46 points, followed by Tennessee Wesleyan with 74 points and Mars Hill with 117 points. South Atlantic Conference foe Wingate was fourth with 125 points. SCAD Savannah's Jessy Scarpone was the individual winner, finishing in 22 minutes, 14 seconds.

Mars Hill returns to action on Saturday, October 11 at the Royals XC Challenge.