Oakwood, Ga.----The Wingate University women's cross country team finished 11th in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional championship meet at the University of North Georgia cross country course Saturday (men's 10K results; women's 6K results). Bulldog sophomore Lauryn Tumey (Haw River, N.C.) was the top WU finisher with her 6K time of 23:54.20.
 
WINGATE'S TOP SEVEN
 
Lauryn Tumey (27th overall, 23:54.20 6K)
Julie Diaz (55th, 24:46.52)
Brittany Ream (58th, 24:50.26)
Jessica Fearn (71st, 25:10.06)
Abby Jeske (79th, 25:19.78)
Janelle Shipotofsky (95th, 26:03.09)
Ashleigh Thomson (103rd, 26:17.12)
 
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
 
Wingate head coach Ashley Glover: "The girls moved up in the conference with their finish today. They've been tough all year with some of our top five depth missing due to injury. They raced 'mean' just like I asked them to today." 

"The group of eight women who we traveled (with today) truly exemplified what I look for in a team. They did whatever it took to help each other and that meant that we saw some shifting in positions on the team."
 
"Lauryn Tumey just missed All-Region with her 27th place finish; this was a big improvement from her 50th place finish in 2017. Freshmen Brittany Ream (Holly Springs, N.C.) and Jessica Fearn (Winston-Salem, N.C.) had tough starts today, but they corrected like veterans who were on a mission. I'm looking forward to seeing what's to come with this freshman group of girls over the next few months."
 
NCAA NOTES
 
-Wingate sophomore Julie Diaz (Murrieta, Calif.) was the team's number two finisher, posting a 6K time of 24:46.52 (55th place).
-In her final cross country race as an undergraduate, WU senior Janelle Shipotofsky (Philadelphia, Pa.) earned a 95th place finish with her 6K time of 26:03.09.
-Mount Olive junior Leah Hanle won the race with her 6K time of 21:39.36.
-Lenoir-Rhyne senior Domtila Kiplagat was second. The SAC individual champion posted a 6K time of 21:50.52. Both Kiplagat and Hanle will advance to nationals as individuals.
-Queens University of Charlotte won the women's division with 50 points. The Royals had four runners in the top 11. The rest of the top 10 teams included Flagler (98 points), Anderson (129), Mount Olive (133), North Georgia (153), Columbus State (210), Georgia College (222), Catawba (256), Lenoir-Rhyne (270) and Augusta (280). Wingate was next with 290 points.
-Twenty-three teams posted a team score Saturday; 154 runners finished the race.
 
NEXT ON THE HORIZON
 
The NCAA Division II Southeast Regional meet concludes Wingate's 2018 season. The Bulldogs will host next year's SAC championship meet at the WU Cross Country Facility on Oct. 26, 2019.