Lexi Tepper, a UMBC sophomore from Cherry Hill East, recorded her first collegiate win Friday at the Mount St. Mary’s Duals in Emmitsburg, Md.
Tepper ran 5,000 meters in 18:13.14, winning by about 85 meters over 2nd-place Joslyn Crosby of Howard University of Washington, D.C.
University of Maryland Baltimore County won 25-33 over Howard, with Catholic University of Washington 3rd with 86 points.
Tepper ran 20:42.7 on the same course last year, so she was nearly 2 ½ minutes faster this year. The 18:13.14 is her fastest time on any 5,000-meter course. She ran 18:15.54 at DREAM Park in Logan Township two years ago at South Jersey Group 4 sectionals
Sophomore Katelyn Deal, a sophomore from Woodstown, placed 9th in 19:41.72 for UMBC. That’s an all-course best for Deal as well. Her previous collegiate 5,000 PR was 20:13.7 from last year’s America East Championships in Orono, Maine. Deal did not run XC in high school.
Catholic’s 3rd finisher was Georgia Nussey, a senior from Haddonfield. She was 18th overall in 20:24.47.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 