Vann & Thompson Place in Top 10 at Willie Laster Invite

Full Women's Results
Full Men's Results
ALBANY, Ga. – The rain moved out of the area, and it turned into a great evening of running competition in Radium Springs Park. Brea Vann and Faith Thompson ran to third and ninth places to lead the Albany State contingent at their Willie Laster Invitational on Friday night.

The duo of Vann and Thompson guided the Lady Rams to the top non-NCAA DI team finish and second overall. In fact, ASU bested Columbus State, 56 to 58, after finishing behind them last week in the Mercer Invite. The Lady Rams placed each of their top five scoring runners within the top 18 of Friday's finishers.

Overall, Florida A&M's Rose Muturi won the top finish by being 56 seconds faster than her runner-up teammate, Crystal Malaykhan, 18:46.10 to 19:42.10.

"It was a good showing and representation of ASU Cross Country on the course for the Willie Laster Invite with a lot of teams competing. Once the sun came out it was time to race," explained ASU Head Coach Robert Smith. "Our team had some personal bests here today. A lot of our women improved tremendously from last week's race and they stepped up big time this week."

Vann recorded ASU's top placing and third overall at 19:49.60. Thompson was the other top 10 Lady Ram in ninth (20:35.80). Narrowly missing the top 10, Sydney Haywood crossed the finish line in 11^th (21:06.80). Jehzaria Middleton was the fourth ASU runner under 22 minutes at 21:48.40 in 16^th. Charity Tukes was the final scoring Lady Ram in 18^th place (22:13.60).

A pair of ASU runners came one after another in the next group. Je'Nya Harris was 21^st in 23:23.40, while Zahriya Sullivan followed in 22^nd (23:28.70). Jayda Spikes ran personal best of 23:42 (26th) and Gabrielle Dillard, improved by almost 3 minutes from last week, running a personal best time of 24:41 (31st).

ASU travels to Dahlonega, Ga., next Friday (Sept. 18) for a 6:30 p.m. start in the University of North Georgia Invitational.

-GoldenRams-

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Players Mentioned

Brea Vann: Sophomore

Faith Thompson: Sophomore

Jayda Spikes: Senior

Gabrielle Dillard: Senior

Sydney Haywood: Sophomore

Je'Nya Harris: Freshman

Jehzaria Middleton: Freshman

Charity Tukes: Freshman

Zahriya Sullivan: 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Brea Vann
: Sophomore

Faith Thompson
: Sophomore

Jayda Spikes
: Senior

Gabrielle Dillard
: Senior

Sydney Haywood
: Sophomore

Je'Nya Harris
: Freshman

Jehzaria Middleton
: Freshman

Charity Tukes
: Freshman

Zahriya Sullivan
: 5' 6"; Freshman