Avenging Angels Win USA South Women’s Cross Country Championship

Led by USA South Conference Runner of the Year Allie Gallagher, ’16, and Rookie of the Year Ann Chapin Meekins, ’17, Meredith’s Avenging Angels cross country team won the 2013 USA South Women’s Cross Country Championship, earning the program its first conference title.

In celebration of the season’s success, Meredith’s Department of Athletics sponsored a send-off for the team prior to the conference meet, a show of support that was meaningful for the athletes.
“I have never been more proud to be a student-athlete at Meredith than when the athletics department arranged for faculty, staff, and students to recognize the team before conference and then to be able to return home with a tangible result,” said senior Lara Pantlin.

The conference championship meet was held on November 2 at Greensboro’s Hagan Stone Park.  Head Coach Amy Olsen garnered Coach of the Year honors to complete the sweep of individual conference awards. Senior Lourdes Camacho earned Meredith’s All-Sportsmanship selection and posted a top-25 finish. Gallagher crossed the finish line second among the pool of 77 women, with a career best time of 25:13.81. Meekins followed her one second later in third. Freshman Itzel Gonzalez set a 6K personal best with a time of 25:17.65 for a fourth-place finish.

Caitlin Dorantich, ’15, and Illa Jones, ’15, rounded out the top-seven performers, all who earned USA South All-Conference first team honors. Pantlin earned second team honors and sophomore Jessica Browning finished the race in 20th to garner placement on the All-Conference third team. The final four Avenging Angels, Katie Burnet, ’16, Megan Keesee, ’15, Katie Riggs, ’14, and Molie Schrull, ’14, recorded a top-50 pace for Meredith.

Pantlin is proud of the improvements her team has made during her Meredith career. “The difference between the team that I started on four years ago and the team we have today is astronomical,” Pantlin said. “I can’t wait to hear the excellent accomplishments of our runners in the coming years.”

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of Meredith Magazine.