LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Fresh off their best performance in the Big South Championship in team history, the Longwood women's cross country team put together a strong effort at the NCAA Southeast Regional on Friday. Grace Puleo led the way, and Lanie Grogg and Kathryn Oylear added personal bests in the 6K race.
 
Placement/Times
32. Longwood—25:06 (average team time)
 
172. Grace Puleo: 23:43.4
200. Lanie Grogg: 24:42.6
215. Caroline Fairbanks: 25:19.5
222. Nicole Pinder: 25:44.2
224. Bailey Deaver: 26:02.2
227. Kathryn Oylear: 26:43.2
228. Kiersten Witte: 27:51.3
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
The field was fast for the NCAA Southeast Regional, and Puleo was a mere two seconds off a top-10 time in team history. Her 23:43.4 is good for the 11^th fastest race in team history after she ran the seventh fastest time last year.
 
Grogg continued her strong run to the end of the season, posting a personal best at 24:42.6. The freshman has now set a college-best time in each of her last two races: the Big South Championship two weeks ago and the regional.
 
Fairbanks finished with a 25:19.5 on the wet course, and Pinder (25:44.2) and Deaver (26:02.2) followed her to round out the runners that scored for Longwood.
 
Oylear (26:43.2) shaved 15 seconds off her 6K time from earlier in the year for a personal best. It marked a second-straight race that the junior has posted a personal-best time.
 
Witte rounded out the field at 27:51.3 in the second 6K of her young collegiate career.

WHAT THEY SAID:
 
"I'm proud of the team for going out in a fast field and taking chances," said Longwood Head Coach Brooke Craig. "It paid off with some personal bests and record book times. This has been a historic season for the program. They've made a lot of strides with the focus on working together. They'll get a few weeks off now before getting back to work for track."
 
"This was Grace's final cross country race, and I cannot say enough about what she has done for the program," Craig added about her team's senior leader. "I've been fortunate to be her coach for these past four years, and I'm excited to see where life takes her."
 
UP NEXT:
 
The fall season is complete for the team, and the Lancers will now focus on their spring season.
 
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