Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va.- Tasmin Fanning cruised in her 2008 debut for the cross country squad at the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational at the Tech Cross Country Course in Blacksburg, Va., winning the 5k race for the Hokie women. Devin Cornwall was the top Tech finisher on the men’s side, placing fifth overall in the 8k race, clocking 24:10.
Both Hokie squads finished runner-up to Florida State at the meet. The Tech women tallied 37 points overall, while the men finished with 43 points. The Seminole men and women earned 16 and 33 points respectively.
Fanning finished strong for the Hokies in a full sprint, crossing the line at 15:55. Fanning’s sister, Jessica Fanning, took fourth in 16:34, followed by Erin Reddan in ninth with a time of 17:06. Natalie Kretzer and Jessica Trapeni rounded out the team scoring for Tech with 11th and 16-place finishes respectively.
The Seminoles captured the top four spots in the men’s race, with the quartet crossing the line near simultaneously, and Cornwall right behind. Newcomers Will Mulherin and Brian Welch both had strong showings, coming in at seventh and eighth place respectively. Paul LaPenna crossed the line in 11th and Phillip Padilla placed 13th to complete the team scoring for the Hokie men.
Several former Hokies also competed in the meet. Natalie Sherbak, who is a redshirt senior on the track and field squad, placed third running unattached. Jason Vick and David Atkiss had sound showings for the men, earning 38th and 51st-place respectively. Unattached runners did not count in team scoring, and their overall finishes were removed.
Tech will receive a week’s rest before heading to altitude on Oct. 3., when the Hokies will travel to Boone, N.C. for the Highland Duel. Results will be posted on hokiesports.com after the meet.