VALDOSTA, Ga. – The University of Tampa women’s cross country team opened its 2018 season with a first-place finish at the Valdosta State University Invitational.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
UT Finish: 1st, 21 points
Overall Champion: Tampa, 21 points
Location: Freedom Park | Valdosta, Ga.
Host Institution: Valdosta State University
Distance: 5K
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TOP SPARTAN PERFORMERS:
• Zoe Jarvis | 1st overall, 18:47.0

• Shannon Sweeney | 2nd overall, 18:59.0

• Julia Lockridge | 5th overall, 19:40.5

• Lexi Bible | 6th overall, 19:41.4

• Monika Brill | 7th overall, 19:43.3

OTHER NOTABLES:

• Jarvis, a sophomore, was the top Spartan. She is coming off a 2017 season where she was the fastest Spartan in six of seven races.
• The first-place finish was the best for Jarvis, who was second as last year’s Florida State Invite and third at the Valdosta State race.
• Sweeney, a four-year letterwinner for the UT women’s lacrosse team, turned in an impressive second-place finish in her first collegiate race.
• Freshman Cassie Highsmith finished outside the Spartan top-five but was eighth with a time of 19:50.1.
• Brieanna Rekow made it seven Spartans in the top-10 as she was ninth at 19:56.02.
• A total of seven teams competed.
• UT was the lone Sunshine State Conference team in the meet.
• Tampa entered a total of 14 runners in the women’s race.

UP NEXT:
Tampa heads to Melbourne, Fla., on Saturday, September 8 for the Florida Tech Invitational.

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