The Florida A&M Lady Rattlers cross-country team brought home its second consecutive first-place finish. The reward came after dominating the competition at the 2011 Albany State University Cross Country Invitational Saturday at Sherwood Legacy Park in Albany, Ga.
Taking places one through five, the ladies scored 15 points at the meet. Every member of the team finished in the top ten at the meet. Chandelic Jackson snatched a first-place finish with a time of 19:35.78 in the 5k (three-mile) run.
Simone Durden came in second with a time of 19:47.56. Nadine Mulvaney, with a time of 20:00.24, placed third. Clarricia Golden came in fourth with a time of 20:28.60. Ciera Williams finished the top five with a time of 20:43.60. Brittany Carter (20:56.67) and Ariel Allen (21:29.75) finished in seventh and eighth place respectively.
The Lady Rattlers were trailed by Albany State with a total of 49 points. Edward Waters College finished in third with 74 points. Head Coach Darlene Moore, who is an alumna of Albany State and the team’s former coach, was pleased with the ladies finish at the meet. “I was looking for our ladies to hit their times at specific marks along the course,” Moore told famuatheletics.com. “In order for each individual to improve, we must concentrate on their pace and setting benchmarks is the best way.”
Coming in first, Jackson thanked her teammates for her success. “Motivation, our connection, and just the commitment to the team helped me,” Jackson said. The team will continue its hunt for improvement, en route to a MEAC championship, on Friday Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. in the Florida State invitational in Tallahassee.