Cross Country: Both Cavalier squads finish runner-up at Virginia Invitational

The No. 23 and No. 17 ranked Virginia men’s and women’s cross country programs kicked off the first of two meets at Panorama Farms this season with the 2024 Virginia Invitational on Saturday.

The meet was headlined by Gillian Bushee and Justin Wachtel as the first to cross the line for the Cavaliers for the second meet this season as both teams finish runner-up.

The day began with the men’s 8k race as the battle between ACC rivals Virginia and North Carolina (UNC) began. Wachtel and Will Anthony led the way for the Cavaliers taking two of the top three spots in second and third place.

Wachtel crossed the line 24:02.3 just behind UNC’s Ethan Strand in first place with his time of 23:49.8. Anthony finished third crossing the line in 24:02.9.

Anthony returns to the cross country course as Virginia’s top finisher from the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Fellow Cavaliers in Jack Eliason (24:15.5), Wes Porter (24:23.1) and Jacob Hunter (24:23.9) rounded out the top-10 finishers in seventh, ninth and tenth respectively.

This marks the second race this season in which Wachtel led the way for the Cavaliers, as the junior won his season opener at the Spider Alumni Invitational.

Wachtel completed the 6k course in Richmond in a time of 17:56.2 and was one of two athletes to record a time under 18-minutes. Also with a strong start to the season was Eliason as he recorded a seventh-place finish on his home course after a third-place finish at Pole Green Park clocking 18:02.9 for 6k.

The team standings came down to a tie as both Virginia and UNC tallied a total of 31 points. After the tie breaker, UNC recorded the team victory leaving the Cavaliers to finish runner-up.

On the women’s side, Gillian Bushee led the way again for Virginia crossing the line in third place with her time of 16:42.0 for the 5k course. Not far behind Bushee was Jenny Schilling in fourth place crossing the line in 16:44.3.

Schilling takes to the course for the first time since becoming Virginia’s first All-American in cross country since Barbara Strehler in 2013 during the 2023 season. Sophie Atkinson (17:08.7) and Cate DeSousa (17:15.9) rounded out the top ten finishers in sixth and ninth respectively.

After securing the victory at the Spider Alumni Open just two weeks ago in the women’s 4k, Bushee continued her dominate season leading the way in the 5k at Panorama Farms.

Virginia’s top five finishers in Atkinson, DeSousa and Sara Peer (17:19.7, 11th) continued their hot streak as the trio also finished inside the top 10 just two weeks ago in Richmond.

The Virginia women finished second in the team standings earning a total of 33 points to finish just behind UNC’s total of 23 points.

1. North Carolina — 23

3. Norfolk State — 96

4. Alabama-Huntsville — 100

Virginia will travel to Madison, Wisc. for the Nuttycombe Invitational on Friday, Sept. 27th. The day is set to begin with the “B” races as the women begin at 11 a.m., followed by men at 11:40 p.m. The championships races will begin with the women’s “A” race at 12:20 p.m. and the men’s “A” race at 1 p.m.