RICHMOND, VA – Walters State competed at the NJCAA DII Cross Country Championship in Richmond on Saturday afternoon.

As a team, the Senators finished in 35th-place while the Lady Senators came in 39th-place.

The race was a 5k for the women and an 8k for the men. 

On the men's side, Gideon Erwin finished in 100th-place with a time of 27:54. Along with Erwin, Juan Guillen finished in 180th-place with a time of 29:01. It was Guillen's fastest time of the season by 16 seconds. 

Sam Runyan was next for Walters State in 256th-place and a time of 30:56, and Edgar Martinez was the Senators' fourth finisher in 256th-place with a time of 30:56. It was Martinez's season best by 12 seconds. 

Rounding out the Walters State team were Wade Walters in 281st with a time of 32:14, Ignacio Vargas Huipe in 291st with a time of 33:25 and Parker Minor in 306th with a time of 35:37. 

For the women, Naomi Merrill was the first finisher for the Lady Senators in 226th with a time of 23:22. Taylor Starnes was right behind Merrill in 233rd-place and a time of 23:34. It was Starnes' season best by eight seconds. 

Next up for Walters State was McKayla Ruchala in 246th with a time of 23:59, her season's best time by 31 seconds. Ava Curry was fourth for Walters State with a time of 24:07, while Cindy de Leon was fifth in 252nd with a time of 24:08. Rounding out the team was Landry Russell in 315th with a time of 31:25. 

Up Next:

Walters State will finish up their season in the NJCAA Half Marathon on Tuesday. The women race at 9 a.m., with the men to follow at 9:15 a.m.