Pasco-Hernando State College Volume XIV, Issue I Spring 2020 | Page 14

ATHLETICS
UPDATE
The 2019-2020 Women’s Cross Country Team and coaches.
Four-time Region 8 Champions
The Women’s Cross Country Team defended their NJCAA
Region 8 Championship at Apalachee Regional Park in
Tallahassee on Friday, October 25. The Bobcats held off
a tough Daytona Beach State squad to win their fourth
straight crown. Standout Olivia D’Angelo was named
Runner of the Year after winning the race for the second
consecutive year in 19:53. Teammate Isabel Oliveto
finished second in 20:12. Other top runners included
Grace D’Angelo (7th, 21:23); Katerina Dobkowski (10th,
21:32); Avery Mayer (12th, 22:02); Jordyn Avers (12th,
22:06); and Brenna Moran (13th, 22:30)—bringing the
team average to 21:01. According to the Florida College
System Activities Association (FCSAA), the Bobcats are
the only school to claim the women’s title since the fast-
growing event first ran in 2016. And, for the third time in
the four years, took home the top individual honors as
well.
The Bobcats season kicked off in late August with a meet
hosted by Daytona State College. The Run the Beach
Relay women’s team title went to PHSC with sisters,
Olivia and Grace D’Angelo placing first (26:57) for the
four-mile race. The Bobcats also claimed second and
fifth place in the race.
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PHSC
In September, Olivia D’Angelo was the top NJCAA
performer (19:37) at the University of Florida Mountain
Dew Invitational in Gainesville. The Bobcats placed 19 of
35 teams and the first among the junior college teams.
Other standouts that day included sophomores Grace
D’Angelo (22:20) and Brenna Moran (22:13). The cross
country team had another outstanding performance in
October at the Disney Cross Country Classic, placing
seventh out of sixteen colleges.
The four-time regional champs traveled to Albuquerque,
NM, for the NJCAA D1 National 5K Championship on
November 9 where they finished 14 th in the nation.
Additionally, Cross Country Head Coach Jacki
Wachtel finished her 15 th season at PHSC with a fourth
consecutive NJCAA Region 8 Coach of the Year award.
The Bobcats wrapped up their season with a fifth place
run at the NJCAA Half Marathon Championship in El
Paso, Texas on November 23. Olivia D’Angelo (18 th ) led
the team running the 13.1 mile course in 1:32:17 followed
by Isabel Oliveto (22 nd ) 1:33:28 and Grace D’Angelo (29 th )
in 1:38:41. Other runners included Brenna Moran (34 th )
in 1:44:53, Kat Dobkowski (38 th ) in 1:50:57, Avery Mayer
(44 th ) in 1:57:11 and Jordyn Avers in (46 th ) 2:00:52.