CAA Cross Country Weekly Awards – Sept. 5
Hunter Peters
RICHMOND, Va. (Sept. 5, 2023) – The CAA has announced its first cross country weekly award winners for the 2023 season. On the women’s side, William & Mary junior Sofia Istnick earned CAA Runner of the Week honors. Stony Brook graduate student Shane Henderson received Runner of the Week accolades for the men.
WOMEN’S RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Sofia Istnick, William & Mary
Sophomore | Massillon, Ohio / Jackson
Istnick opened the season with a top-five finish at the 2023 Spider Alumni Open, helping William & Mary to a runner-up finish as a team. The sophomore covered the 4K course in 13:42.2 to place fourth in the 180-participant field. Istnick paced a Tribe squad, which finished second in the 16-team field ahead of 11th-ranked Georgetown and only behind Virginia, who is tied with the Hoyas at No. 11 in the national rankings.
MEN’S RUNNER OF THE WEEK
Shane Henderson, Stony Brook
Graduate | Old Saybrook, Conn. / Old Saybrook HS
Henderson began the season with an individual victory at the Stony Brook Season Opener, leading the Seawolves to the team title on their home course. The graduate student posted a time of 18:42.8 over the 6.2K course, with an average mile split of 4:51.7 to take first place in the event.
2023 CAA CROSS COUNTRY WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Women’s Runner of the Week
Sept. 5: Sofia Istnick, William & Mary
Men’s Runner of the Week
Sept. 5: Shane Henderson, Stony Brook
Team Notes
Campbell: The Fighting Camels opened their CAA tenure at the Elon Opener. Alitza Betancourt Dennard paced the women in the 4K with a time of 14:54.3 (41st), and Logan Ades finished first for the men, covering the 6K course in 19:39.3 (68th).
Charleston: Amy Seago coached her final races as head coach at the Buccaneer Invitational, ending a 20-year stint at the College of Charleston. Rhian Purves was one of three Cougar women in the top 10, finishing third in the 4K with a time of 15:41.3. Mitchel Drees paced the men’s team in his collegiate debut, running the 6K course in 19:41.3 (14th).
Delaware: The Blue Hens finished fifth in the team standings at the 2023 Spider Alumni Open. Nina Sgambelluri led the way for Delaware by running a PR in the 4K to place 15th with a time of 14:12.1.
Elon: The Phoenix opened the season by hosting its annual Elon Opener, where the women finished third and the men placed fourth. Quinn Smith was the top finisher on the women’s side, posting a mark of 13:56.8 (13th) in her collegiate debut. Zane Jackson paced the men, running 18:17.1 (22nd) in the 6K race.
Hampton: The Lady Pirates started their season at the 2023 Spider Alumni Open. Jordan Mozie was the top runner for Hampton with a time of 15:03.3 (39th).
Monmouth: The Hawks began their 2023 season at the New Jersey Jam hosted by Princeton University. Seb Reed earned a top-five finish for the men, placing fifth with a mark of 16:59.0 on the 5.6K course. Ashley Navarro paced for Hawk women in the top 20, finishing 12th in the 4K with a time of 14:39.6.
North Carolina A&T: The Aggies started the year at the Elon Opener. JUCO transfer Kylan Willis paced the men’s team, running 18:43.6 (32nd), and Farjj Kelly led the way for the women with a personal-best time of 14:49.0 (35th).
UNCW: The Seahawks joined the party at the Elon Opener, with the women earning a fifth-place team finish. Summer Herbertson was the top finisher for the women, recording a time of 14:31.8 (26th), while Griffin Wald paced the men in his collegiate debut with a mark of 19:00.1 (45th).
Northeastern: The Huskies opened the year with a men’s team title and runner-up women’s finish at the Suffolk Short Course Classic. Tyler Brogan won the individual title in the men’s 5K (15:27.8), and freshman Natasha Sortland championed the 3K course (10:45.2) for the women.
Stony Brook: The Seawolves hosted the Stony Brook Season Opener, claiming the men’s team title and a second-place finish for the women in their season debut. The men place four runners, including Henderson, in the top six, totaling 27 points for the team title. Grace Weigele claimed the individual title on the women’s side, running 13:58.9 in the 4K.
Towson: The Tigers opened the year at the Baltimore Metro Meet, earning a fourth-place team finish. Aubrey Schaffer was the top finisher for Towson, placing 12th with a time of 19:06.7 in the 5K.
William & Mary: The Tribe competed in the 2023 Spider Alumni Open as the women finished runner-up and the men placed fourth. Arianna DeBoer joined Istnick in the top 10, placing ninth with a mark of 14:01.8. Nate Jennings paced the men with a top-15 finish, running 18:26.1 (14th).
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