Brown Leads The Field As UNC Earns Team Title

Friday, September 24

Boston, Mass.

Noon

North Carolina

Battle In Beantown (women)

Brynn Brown took first at the Battle in Beantown Friday in her UNC debut.

Photo by: Tom Connelly

September 24, 2021 | Cross Country

Results

BOSTON, Mass. – Tar Heel freshman Brynn Brown finished first overall at the Battle in Beantown Friday afternoon, leading the UNC women's cross country team to a victory over the 5K course at Franklin Park. The 13^th-ranked Tar Heels totaled 63 points to lead the 22-team field, ahead of second-place Providence with 82 and third-place Duke with 115.

After Brown in first, sophomore Sasha Neglia was sixth overall, freshman Carlee Hansen was 16^th, sophomore Natalie Tyner was 19^th, sophomore Kelsey Harrington was 21^st, sophomore Ava Dobson was 28^th sophomore Taryn Parks was 35^th, freshman Sydney Masciarelli was 40^th, and sophomore Sarah Trainor was 55^th.

"I'm really proud of the way the women's team competed today," said head coach Dylan Sorensen. "This was an extremely competitive field and our young squad stepped up to the challenge in a big way. It was exciting to have three of our newcomers race for the first time today as well. Brynn ran a great tactical race to win her first college competition, and our whole pack competed with resilience over the second half of the race."

Brynn Brown leads the Heels to victory at the Battle of Beantown … Fun Fact: the entire Tar Heel Top 7 has freshman eligibility 👀 …#GoHeels 🐏 #TarHeelTough 💪🏿💪🏽💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/5e7lNwZQrN — UNC Track & Field • XC (@UNCTrack_Field) September 24, 2021

It marked the third time in three meets this season that the Tar Heels have earned a team victory. In week one, the men's and women's squads swept the Charlotte Opener. Last Friday, the UNC men won at the Adidas XC Challenge, with another Carolina freshmen – Parker Wolfe – placing first in his collegiate debut.

Friday, on a rainy day in Boston, it was Brown's turn for an outstanding debut. She competed the 5K course in 16:53, eight seconds ahead of the second-place runner, Syracuse's Amanda Vestri.

In the team field, the Tar Heels saw plenty of ACC rivals, with Duke in third, Syracuse seventh and host Boston College ninth.

Next up for the UNC women is the FSU XC Invite on Oct. 15 in Tallahassee, Fla. The Tar Heel men will race next Friday at the Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pa.

Battle in Beantown • Boston, Mass. (Franklin Park)
UNC finishers
1. Brynn Brown, 16:53
6. Sasha Neglia, 17:17
16. Carlee Hansen, 17:35
19. Natalie Tyner, 17:36
21. Kelsey Harrington, 17:37
28. Ava Dobson, 17:45
35. Taryn Parks, 17:56
40. Sydney Masciarelli, 18:03
55. Sarah Trainor, 18:19