Women's cross country team runs well at national championships

The Eastern Florida State College women's cross country team placed 21^st in the NJCAA Division I Cross Country Championship in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday.

The Titans ran better than they did at the Region 8 meet, averaging 21 minutes 22 seconds as a team. 

Freshman Rori Pandolfini was the top finisher, running the 5K race in 20:29 which is her top time of the season. Teammates Amelia Shephard and Marlie Gonzalez each ran their best times of the season as Shephard finished in 20:43.5 and Gonzalez was right behind her at 20:46.9.

Freshman Trinity Trett dropped a couple seconds off her top time, crossing the line in 22:15.4. Isabella Narvaez finished in 22:24.7 while Abigail Derisme crossed in 23:03.1 and Maddison Lusk in 25:19.5.

"Rori, Amelia and Marlie had great days all going under 21 minutes on a course that was slightly long. We had a team average of 21:22 which was our best of the season and eight seconds better than our Region 8 race," Eastern Florida State College women's cross country coach Doug Butler said. "I could not be prouder of these ladies. Trinity also stepped up, moving up the entire race and had a great race."

Salt Lake Community College won the national title with Iowa Western CC second and New Mexico Junior College third.

The team will compete in the NJCAA Division I Half Marathon Championships in Richmond, Virginia on Tuesday.