BUIES CREEK, N.C. – After setting Longwood's third-fastest 4K time in her 2019 debut two weeks earlier at the Elon Opener, Lancer ace Casey Williams continued her ground-breaking pace with another personal-best Saturday morning at the Big South Preview at Campbell University.
 
Longwood's junior ace set a second straight personal best, grinding her way to a 20:08.54 and a sixth-place finish in her preliminary run on the site of the Big South's upcoming championship on Nov. 2. That time was more than 30 seconds faster than her previous 5K personal best, blowing away the 20:43.6 she ran as a sophomore at last year's Big South Championship.
 
Williams was one of two top-10 finishers for the Lancer women, placing just ahead of freshman teammate Grace Puleo who clocked a 20:24.08 in her collegiate 5K debut Saturday. Williams trailed only the top five runners from reigning Big South runner-up and preseason No. 2 Campbell, which took six of the top eight spots alongside Williams and Puleo.
 
"Overall we were happy with the performances today," said Longwood second-year head coach Daniel Wooten. "At this point in the season, we're focusing on working hard through our races. Today our runners were coming off two quality workouts and two quality lifts, so as expected our legs weren't fresh. That said, it was a great opportunity to see the conference course."
 
Williams and Puleo's top-10 performances propelled the Lancer women to second place at the three-team event, trailing Campbell and finishing ahead of Big South rival Presbyterian.
 
Behind Williams and Puleo, Longwood saw the sophomore trio of Lindsey Gordon (22:22.19), Maddie Foster (23:21.05) and Brooke Dippold (23:34.85) place 16th, 18th and 19th, respectively.
 
For the Longwood men, the sophomore duo of Nick Howell (28:34.85) and Sage Church (29:08.28) clocked back-to-back finishes to place ninth and 10th, followed by freshman Sam Sager who ran a 29:46.74 to place 12th and break the 30-minute threshold in his inaugural collegiate 8K.
 
Also in his first collegiate 8K, fellow freshman Zachary Lam ran a 34:28.01 to place 17th, followed by sophomore Nick O'Keeffe (34:59.41) in 18th.
 
The Lancer men finished third overall behind reigning Big South men's champion and preseason favorite Campbell and Presbyterian.
 
Now two races into the 2019 season, the Lancers will take a two-week break from competition to prepare for the Queen City Invitational in Charlotte, N.C., ,this Friday, Sept. 27.
 
Big South Preview
Sept. 14, 2019
Buies Creek, N.C. (Campbell University)
 
Women's Individual Results (5K, 22 participants)
6. Casey Williams (20:08.54)
8. Grace Puleo (20:24.08)
16. Lindsey Gordon (22:22.19)
18. Maddie Foster (23:21.05)
19. Brooke Dippold (23:34.85)
 
Women's Team Results
1. Campbell (19:28.82, 15 points)
2. Longwood (21:58.15, 58 points)
3. Presbyterian (22:01.53, 63 points)
 
Men's Individual Results (8K, 18 participants)
9. Nick Howell (28:34.85)
10. Sage Church (29:08.28)
12. Sam Sager (29:46.74)
17. Zachary Lam (34:28.01)
18. Nick O'Keeffe (34:59.41)
 
Men's Team Results
1. Campbell (27:16.67, 15 points)
2. Presbyterian (29:17.43, 55 points)
3. Longwood (31:23.46, 66 points)

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