Seniors Shine at CAA Preview Race

Friday, January 29

Wilmington, N.C.

3 p.m.

James Madison University

UNCW Pre-CAA Meet

1/29/2021 5:37:00 PM | Cross Country

@JMUCrossCountry Results (PDF)

WILMINGTON, N.C. – James Madison cross country began its season at the Colonial Athletic Association Preview Race held at UNCW with a second-place team finish on the Old Fort Golf Course on Friday evening.

The Dukes racked up 54 points on the day to slip right in front of College of Charleston who finished third with 55 points. Elon dominated the race, boasting the first four finishers to secure first place with 17 points.

Senior Brooke Manion led the charge for JMU in the 5k race, finishing in a personal record time of 17:48.73 to cross the finish line in fifth out of 29 runners. Fellow classmate Caitlin Swanson followed behind with an eighth-place finish in a personal best time of 17:54.98.

Senior Kayla Connelly rounded out the top-three JMU finishers as she completed the 5k in a personal record 17:59.11 to land in 10th. Sophomore Jessica Cantrell also set her personal record in the 5k in 18:49.48.

Quoting Coach Rinker
"Great to get back on the cross country course!" head coach Dave Rinker said. "I thought we put ourselves where we needed to be and we raced hard. I really think we can make a nice jump in the next five weeks heading into conference."

Up Next
The Dukes will have one final tune-up before the CAA Championship race, when JMU heads to Mechanicsville, Va., to race in the Richmond Invitational on Friday, Feb. 5.

JMU Runners
Brooke Manion – 17:48.73, 5th
Caitlin Swanson – 17:54.98, 8th
Kayla Connelly – 17:59.11, 10th
Jessica Cantrell – 18:49.48, 15th
McKenzi Watkins – 19:03.29, 16th