Tuohy runs impressive final stretch to prevail against Chelangat in 5-kilometer race and lead defending champion Wolfpack past New Mexico and Alabama; Victor Kiprop leads three Crimson Tide athletes in top six of 5-mile competition, but host Notre Dame prevails against Carlson-led Tennessee
By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor
Katelyn Tuohy, the reigning NCAA Division 1 5,000-meter champion, pulled away from defending 10,000-meter title holder Mercy Chelangat of Alabama in the final kilometer Friday of the Joe Piane Notre Dame Cross Country Invitational at Burke Golf Course, allowing top-ranked North Carolina State to edge New Mexico and Alabama in the women’s blue 5-kilometer race.
Notre Dame also held off former coach Sean Carlson and his new team at Tennessee, including reigning 10,000-meter champion Dylan Jacobs, in the men’s blue 5-mile race, with Victor Kiprop leading three Alabama athletes placing in the top six overall.
Tuohy turned a one-second advantage at the 4-kilometer mark into a 12-second victory, clocking 15:50.1, as defending Division 1 champion North Carolina State had four scorers in the top 12 to prevail by a 55-68 margin against No. 3 New Mexico, with No. 10 Alabama taking third with 70 points.
Chelangat, last year’s blue 5-kilometer race winner, was runner-up in 16:02.1 and freshman Hilda Olemomoi took third in 16:04.9 for the Crimson Tide, which also had Amaris Tyynismaa finish 15th in 16:23.6 and Flomena Asekol – runner-up last season – earn 18th in 16:28.4.
Kaylee Mitchell placed fourth in 16:09.8 and Grace Fetherstonhaugh finished 14th in 16:23.5, as Oregon State was eighth with 256 points.
Tuohy was supported by Samantha Bush finishing fifth in 16:11.7 and Tennessee transfer Sydney Seymour securing sixth in her Wolfpack debut in 16:11.9.
Marlee Starliper grabbed 12th in 16:21.9 and Gionna Quarzo was 31st in 16:42.2 for North Carolina State, which triumphed at last year’s meet with 38 points, as the top three teams finished in the exact same order again Friday.
New Mexico positioned itself well at the 4-kilometer mark with its top five scorers separated by five seconds and continued to challenge North Carolina State in the final stretch.
Gracelyn Larkin was ninth in 16:20.4 and Amelia Mazza-Downie placed 10th in 16:21.3, with Samree Dishon securing 13th in 16:22.0, Emma Heckel earning 16th in 16:24.5, followed by Elise Thorner (16:33.0) and Danielle Verster (16:33.6) taking 20th and 21st, respectively, for the Lobos.
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