Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University cross country teams won the team titles at the 2011 Pre-South Atlantic Conference Invitational, hosted by the Bulldogs at the Wingate Cross Country Facility. The Pre-SAC Invitational concludes Wingate’s regular season schedule. The Bulldogs will compete in the Food Lion SAC championship meet Saturday, Oct. 22. Carson-Newman College is hosting this year’s event at Panther Creek Park in Morristown, Tenn.

The Wingate women swept the top six positions and seven of the top eight slots. Bulldog sophomore Keeley Wood (Sanford, N.C.) finished first with a 5K time of 19:34. Wood completes the home meet double play, as she won the Bulldog Stampede Sept. 24 with a time of 19:32.
 
Bulldog sophomore Brianna Stevens (Coshocton, Ohio) was second with a time of 20:40. Classmate Tiana Barnes (Winchester, Calif.) was third with a time of 21:11. Barnes ran a 21:04 5K at last week’s Disney World Classic. Sophomore Taylor Varnadoe (Marietta, Ohio) and junior Melanie Wollenberg (New Lexington, Ohio) were fourth (21:13) and fifth (21:30), respectively.
 
Catawba sophomore Olivia Myers (Lexington, N.C.) was the top non-Wingate finisher, placing seventh with a 5K time of 21:46. Francis Marion senior Samantha Smith (Lexington, S.C.) led the Patriots, finishing ninth with a 5K time of 21:55. Livingstone sophomore Anna-Kay Edwards (Kingston, Jamaica) was the top finisher for the Blue Bears with a 5K time of 23:31.
 
On the women’s team leader board, Wingate had 15 points. Catawba was second with 60 points, followed by Francis Marion (76) and Livingstone (97). Twenty-eight runners finished the women’s 5K race Thursday.
 
Catawba junior Christian Crifasi (Ramseur, N.C.) won the 5K men’s race with a time of 16:11. Wingate sophomore Steve Hammond (Warsaw, Ohio) was second with a 5K time of 16:32. Hammond defeated Crifasi at the Bulldog Stampede Sept. 24. The 2010 SAC Freshman of the Year posted an 8K time of 26:09, while Crifasi was nine seconds behind at 26:18.
 
Wingate sophomore James Lawson (Wake Forest, N.C.) was third with a 5K time of 17:01, while junior Andrew Smith (Oakboro, N.C.) was on his heels at 17:02. Bulldog sophomore Max Courtney (Monroe, N.C.) rounded out the top five with a 5K time of 17:19.
 
Francis Marion junior Ian Wallace (Fort Mill, S.C.) led the Patriot charge, claiming seventh place with a 5K time of 17:26. Two Kenyans led Bluefield State (W.Va.) College and Livingstone. BSC junior Kharles Mwalo paced the Big Blues, finishing 24th with a 5K time of 19:44. Livingstone junior Ezra Mutai (Nairobi, Kenya) clocked a 23:09 5K for the Blue Bears, finishing in 30th place.
 
The Wingate men also finished first, claiming the team trophy with 20 points. Francis Marion was second with 59 points, followed by Catawba (78), Wingate Blue (87) and Bluefield State (138). Livingstone did not have enough runners to earn a team score.