Longwood University Athletics

FARMVILLE, Va. – In a semester unlike any other, Longwood cross country saved its biggest test for last.
 
In the finale of an unorthodox fall preseason, the Lancer men and women held their final Blue-White Intrasquad Race Saturday on a challenging 5K course traversing the rolling hills of the former Longwood golf course in Farmville. The race served as a preview of the program's planned home event this spring, which will be part of an abridged 2020-21 schedule that was postponed in the fall due to COVID-19.
 
Navigating the demanding terrain on a picturesque 60-degree morning, 14 Lancer runners split into two teams for the final event of a months-long, PR-filled preseason. Men's sophomore Shahmique Cromwell ran the course masterfully and capped a breakout fall with yet another first-place finish and a time of 17:14.62 that propelled his Blue Team to a 22-33 victory.
 
Finishing behind Cromwell was classmate Sam Sager, whose 18:10.80 earned him second place overall and the top finish for the White Team. Blue Team junior Sage Church (18:20.59) and White Team freshman Trey Smith-Tatham (18:22.11) followed in third and fourth to give both teams a share of the top four spots.
 
However, the Blue Team men edged their White Team counterparts with consecutive finishes in spots 5-7 from freshman Campbell Collett (18:46.34), sophomore Zachary Lam (19:10.21) and women's senior captain Casey Williams (19:20.60).
 
Williams' performance was tops among the six competing Lancer women and enough to outpace the Lancers' next-fastest runner on the women's side, freshman Caroline Fairbanks at 19:56.79. White Team men's teammate Nick O'Keeffe (20:27.41) and women's teammate Grace Puleo (20:34.94) trailed her to give White the final three finishers inside the top 10.
 
"We were happy to get out on our course today," said head coach Brooke Craig, who was promoted from her role as an assistant coach this past January. "It was our first time out here, and it gave us a good preview for when we look to host a race here soon."
 
For Craig, the preseason had added significance as well. After working with the Lancers as an assistant coach during the 2019-20 season, the former All-Big South runner at Winthrop took over in January only to have her first spring and later her first fall semester postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
"Almost every one of our runners has had some type of PR this semester," she continued. "I think we're a lot fitter, and as somebody coming into this year as a first-time head coach, this fall gave us a chance to really build a culture."
 
Cromwell echoed Craig's sentiments.

"I feel like we've definitely gotten a lot closer as a team this fall," said the Chesterfield, Va., native Cromwell. "All we've had to rely on to get better is each other. That definitely built team morale, and even getting out here and racing among ourselves has still been a great substitute for the season."
 
Now the Lancers will break from their team-organized training regimens to wrap up the fall academic semester and prepare for their official competition season this spring. For Cromwell and many of his teammates, the unorthodox fall has inspired a newfound perspective on racing.
 
"Having the season get taken away like that and not being able to race against other teams really makes you appreciate it," he said.
 
Longwood Blue-White Intrasquad Race
November 21, 2020 (9:30 p.m.)
Farmville, Va. (Longwood Golf Course)
 
Team Results (5K)
1. Blue Team (22 points, 18:34.47)
2. White Team (33 points, 19:30.41)
 
Individual Results (5K)
1. Shahmique Cromwell, BLUE (17:14.62)
2. Sam Sager, WHITE (18:10.80)
3. Sage Church, BLUE (18:20.59)
4. Trey Smith-Tatham, WHITE (18:22.11)
5. Campbell Collett, BLUE (18:46.34)
6. Zachary Lam, BLUE (19;10.21)
7. Casey Williams, BLUE (19:20.60)
8. Caroline Fairbanks, WHITE (19:56.79)
9. Nick O'Keefe, WHITE (20:27.41)
10. Grace Puleo, WHITE (20:34.94)
11. Bailey Deaver, BLUE (22:35.57)
12. Jack Van Straten, WHITE (24:46.30)
13. Carolina Fritz, WHITE (25:17.20)
14. Aislinn Garcia, BLUE (25:17.34)

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