Longwood University Athletics

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Seven personal bests spread across three different races highlighted the Longwood cross country team's final track meet of the spring at the Captain's Classic hosted by Christopher Newport University Saturday at Irwin Belk Track in Pomoco Stadium.
 
Competing in five total races, the Lancer men and women saw seven different runners clock the best times of their collegiate career at the day-long meet on Christopher Newport's campus.
 
"As a coach, you want to see your athletes improve a little bit each time out, and I think over the last three meets we have consistently been able to do that in multiple races from multiple athletes," head coach Daniel Wooten said. "This consistency has led to some confidence and momentum that we will definitely take into summer training.
 
"Though it's sad to see our season come to a close, I think it will allow for a much-needed break for our runners. Also, thank you to our Lancer family members who have traveled to our meets this season. It's always nice to have such great support and see familiar faces no matter where we go on the road."
 
Nick Howell earned one of those PRs by clocking a 16:41.61 in the men's 5,000-meter, the fastest time of the day in that race for the Lancers. Teammates Noel Preece and Chrishon Dollard also set PRs in that race, with Preece finishing just behind Howell at 16:46.05 and Dollard following teammate Brandon close's 17:49.83 with a personal-best 18:08.07.
 
Sage Church also clocked a PR in the middle distances, running a 4:21.86 in the men's 1,500m to place 17th in that 26-runner field.
 
Meanwhile, Longwood's women earned a pair of PRs in the 800m, as Cicely Dunway grinded her way to a 2:39.43 for 10th place, followed by Brooke Dippold in 13th with a PR 2:44.32
 
Lancer freshman Nick O'Keefe also logged a PR in the 800m at 2:12.41 for the third-best time of his Lancer teammates. Fellow freshmen Ryan Miller and Nick Howell finished ahead of him in 21st and 25th place, respectively, in the 31-man field, while Preece followed in 28th and Mason Burba in 29th. Miller's 2:04.68 put him within one-hundredth of a second of a top-20 finish in the event.
 
Women's captain and sophomore ace Casey Williams also took to the track in the women's 5,000m and placed eighth with a 20:52.14.
 
The Captain's Classic marks the end of Longwood cross country's spring track season, capping a stretch of three races. The Lancers will return to the trail this fall at the start of cross country season.
 
Captain's Classic (hosted by Christopher Newport)
April 20, 2019
Newport News, Va. (Irwin Belk Track)
 
Men's 5,000m (14 participants)
10. Nick Howell (16:41.61)
11. Noel Preece (16:46.05)
13. Brandon Close (17:49.83)
14. Chrishon Dollard (18:08.07)
 
Women's 5,000m (10 participants)
8. Casey Williams (20:52.14)
 
Men's 1,500m (26 participants)
17. Sage Church (4:21.86)
 
Men's 800m (31 participants)
21. Ryan Miller (2:04.68)
25. Nick Howell (2:07.77)
27. Nick O'Keeffe (2:12.41)
28. Noel Preece (2:13.44)
29. Mason Burba (2:15.75)
 
Women's 800m (16 participants)
10. Cicely Dunaway (2:39.43)
13. Brooke Dippold (2:44.32)
 
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