Cross Country: Martin, Schilling pick up wins at Panorama Farms Invitational

Virginia’s Gary Martin and Jenny Schilling recorded wins on their home course at the 2024 Panorama Farms Invitational in Earlysville Saturday.

The No. 20-ranked Virginia women’s cross country team topped the leaderboard in the 6k race team standings while the No. 21 men’s team finished runner-up in the 8k race.

The Virginia women won the 6k race scoring a total of 17 points to beat out second place team and ACC rival, Virginia Tech with 70 points. The Cavaliers placed six runners in the top 10 finishers including Jenny Schilling (1st, 20:29.7), Sophie Atkinson (2nd, 20:27.9), Tatum David (4th, 20:38.2), Camryn Menninger (5th, 20:44.5), Cate DeSousa (8th, 20:50.5) and Sarah Peer (9th, 20:50.6).

From the gun, Schilling and Atkinson led the field of over 130 runners through the six-kilometer course. The lead group of Schilling, Atkinson and unattached athlete, Jette Beermann separated early and continued to widen the gap between the rest of the field. The second chase pack was dominated by Cavaliers as the quartet of David, Menninger, DeSousa and Peer tried to close the gap between the front runners.

In her third race of the season, Schilling continued to shine, winning on her home course. The Leesburg, Va. native betters her finish at home from the Virginia Invitational where she finished fourth for 5K just one month ago.

Also toeing the line for the third time this season, Atkinson controlled the race up front with Schilling to turn in a runner-up performance and better her finish on her home this season course after finishing sixth for 5k at the Virginia Invitational.

On the men’s side, Gary Martin stormed to an impressive finish winning the men’s 8k race in 22:58.9. As the only runner under 23 minutes, Martin’s time ranks as the fifth fastest ever for the 8k course at Panorama Farms.

Also adding his name to the record books was Will Anthony in fourth place with his time of 23:19.6. Anthony’s time ranks 20th among the fastest times run at Panorama Farms. In his 2024 cross country season debut, Nate Mountain turned in a personal best performance clocking 23:29.4 for eight kilometers to finish seventh overall.

The Virginia men finished runner-up in the team standings earning a total of 47 points, finishing just behind ACC foe Wake Forrest with 38 points. The Cavaliers placed seven men in the top 20 finishers including Martin (1st, 22:58.9), Anthony (4th, 23:19.6), Mountain (7th, 23:29.4), Wes Porter (17th, 23:47.6), Jack Eliason (18th, 23:44.7), Andrew Jones (19th, 23:48.8) and Scott Sikorski (20th, 23:50.0).

“On the women’s side, a dominant performance with really good team running. Everyone knew what she had to do and went out and did it. It was an almost perfect race for the women. For the men, Gary Martin was fantastic. Our first three guys were fabulous between Gary, Will Anthony and Nate Mountain with Nate coming back for his first cross country race of the season. We came up a little bit short, but we are getting better and now we start going to the championships so it gets serious now.”

The Virginia men’s and women’s cross country teams will gear up for the 2024 ACC Championships at the Wakemed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C., on Friday, Nov.1.