Wake Forest University
Hokie Open Race
Berenato Finishes Seventh at Hokie Open
11/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Nov. 6, 2009
Hokie Open - Women's 4K Results 
Hokie Open - Men's 6K Results
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Junior Cate Berenato returned to her hometown to pace the Demon Deacons with a seventh-place finish at Virginia Tech's Hokie Open. Berenato finished the 4-kilometer run at the Virginia Tech Home Cross Country Course in 15:14.6 on Friday, as the women's team fielded three of the 11 quickest times in the event.
Berenato was followed by junior Cristina Richard in 10th with a time of 15:36.8. Sophomore Katy Swain was fewer than five seconds behind Richard, with an 11th-overall finish and time of 15:41.6. Senior Kelly Laffey rounded out the women's competitors, finishing 14th overall of 21 runners with a 16:09.9.
"We had a goal today, and I really felt like they tried and did what we asked. We were really pleased with it," head coach Annie Bennett said about the women's performance.
No team scores were reported at the Hokie Open. The top individual finisher in the women's race was Virginia Tech's Sammy Dow with a record-breaking time of 14:23.3.
Freshman Will Ficklen wrapped up his freshman season on Friday in the men's 6K. He was the sole representative for the men's team at the Hokie Open, finishing 12th of 22 with a time of 20:15.6.
"We wanted him to have an opportunity because he's been working hard and wants to get better. This was just a way to show his fitness and where he's at now. [Ficklen] did a really good job managing the first two miles and just needs a little more experience handling the longer races," Bennett said about the true freshman.
Unattached runner Logan Collins finished first with a time of 18:48.6, while the top collegiate runner, Jason Cusack of Virginia Tech, was a mere two seconds behind. Berenato's brother, Thomas Berenato, also was one of the participating athletes in the 6K, racing unattached and completing the course in 23:35.9.
The Wake Forest cross country teams continue championship action when they travel to Louisville, Ky., for the 2009 NCAA Southeast Regionals, hosted by the University of Louisville on Saturday, Nov. 14. The men's 10K will start at 10 a.m., followed by the women's 6K at 11:15 a.m. The women's team currently is ranked 11th in the region.
Players Mentioned
