Cross Country: UVA women finish 14th, men 21st at NCAA Championships

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Posted on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, 2:00 pm

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo: UVA Athletics

Margot Appleton and Gary Martin led the Virginia men’s and women’s cross country teams earning All-American honors at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships Saturday, hosted by the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wis.

Margot Appleton kick started the day in the women’s 6k race at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course. Appleton recorded a top 20 finish in 18th place, crossing the line in 19:51.0. The multiple time All-American in track and field, Appleton earned the first cross country All-American honors of her career in Madison. Virginia’s second-highest finisher was 2023 All-American, Jenny Schilling in 52nd place with her time of 20:13.4.

With a total of 388 points, the Virginia women finished 14th overall in the team standings. The Cavaliers better their performance from a year ago when the team finished 15th at Panorama Farms. The Cavaliers were the fourth ACC team to finish behind Stanford (6th), NC State (8th) and North Carolina (11th).

On the men’s side, Gary Martin had a breakout performance in the men’s 10k race. Known for his speed on the track, Martin proved he can go the distance on the cross-country course as well. The Warminster, Pa. native finished 13th with a new personal best time of 29:02.3. Martin became the first Virginia man to earn All-American honors for his performance since Brent Demarst on the same course in 2018.

Scoring a total of 487 points, the Cavaliers finished 21st in the team standings. The Virginia men bettered their performance from a year ago when the team finished 22nd.

FROM DIRECTOR OF CROSS COUNTRY AND TRACK & FIELD VIN LANANNA:

“On the women’s side, 14th place is a good performance and our women did a good job. In particular, Margot Appleton capitalized. She started late in the season and just got better each week, and this was her best cross country race. On the men’s side, Gary Martin is not necessarily the cross country guy but today he became the cross country guy. It was a brilliant performance by him.”

2024 NCAA Championships
Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course
Madison, Wis.

Virginia Women’s Results (6K) – 14th place, 388 points
18.  Margot Appleton, 19:51.0*
52. Jenny Schilling, 20:13.4
112. Tatum David, 20:37.6
151. Gillian Bushee, 20:49.6
167. Camryn Menninger, 20:55.1
191. Cate DeSousa, 21:07.2
196. Sophie Atkinson, 21:08.3
* – All-America recipient

Virginia Men’s Results (10K) – 21st place, 487 points
13. Gary Martin, 29:02.3*
109. Will Anthony, 29:58.4
140 Justin Wachtel, 30:10.1
152. Nate Mountain, 30:15.9
178. Wes Porter, 30:31.2
179. Jack Eliason, 30:31.2
186. Andrew Jones, 30:37.1
* – All-America recipient