DISNEY XC RESULTS 2018

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The LIU Brooklyn women's cross country team finished in eighth place at the Disney XC Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex Kissimmee, Fla. on Saturday. All seven Blackbirds that ran, set a new season best marks, while three also set new personal best times on the 5K course.

Three senior runners, Esther Jean-Louis, Eugenie Hue and Sarah Northup all broke the 20-minute mark to finish in the top 40, in the race with 196 runners. Jean-Loius slotted in 31st place in 19:30.74, right in front of Hue, who was 32nd in her career-best time of 19:33.53. Northup rounded out the lead group in 35th place (19:37.17).

Senior Zaahira Deboise was LIU's fourth scorer on the day, setting her new personal best time  of 20:42.62, to finish in 73rd place, while sophomore Stephanie Reyes rounded out the top five with her first career sub-22 minute time of 21:56.35.

Sophomore Tara Hernandez ran for LIU for first time this season, coming in at 22:02.89, which slotted her 108th overall. Freshman Jasmine Douglas Grant was another new Blackbird to compete this season, she set a new career best time of 22:42.25 to complete the LIU contingent in Disney. There were 23 complete teams in the field, from all NCAA divisions.

"It was the best meet of the year for us," said Head Coach Yvonne Harrison. "We competed exactly how I wanted and we exceeded my expectations. I am the happiest coach at the happiest place on earth!"

Next Friday, October 12, the Blackbirds will head to the Albany Invitational, their final race before the NEC Championships two weeks later in Smithfield, R.I.