NEWNAN, Ga. – After three weeks off from competition, Clayton State women's cross country showed that that rest made a major difference as they placed 2-of-11 at the SCAD Invitational on Friday, September 30.
 
That finish is the team's best since winning the UWG Wolves Invitational on October 12, 2013. Overall the Lakers finished with a score of 86 points, trailing just host Savannah College of Art & Design (18 points).
 
On the 5k course, sophomore Carla Catala (Barcelona, Spain) delivered another outstanding performance as she finished 6-of-83 (19:46.80) to earn a team-best six points. She was joined by senior Joy Diaz (Riverdale, Ga.) in 12^th (21:18.10, 12 pts) and freshman Aurianna Worrell (St. Petersburg, Fla.) in 15^th (21:38.80, 15 pts).
 
The next highest finishers were senior Hailey Budd (Hartwell, Ga.) and sophomore Ariel Boyd-Ghani (Morrow, Ga.) in 26^th and 27^th, respectively. Budd posted a time of 22:32.10 with 26 points while Boyd-Ghani was at 22:36.80 with 27 points.
 
Clayton State resumes a more regular schedule when they travel to Charlotte, N.C. on October 7. There they will compete in the Royals Challenge, a 5k event beginning at 4:30 p.m.
 
Clayton State Finishers at SCAD Invitational
Carla Catala – 6-of-83 (19:46.80, 6 points)
Joy Diaz – 12-of-83 (21:18.10, 12 pts)
Aurianna Worrell – 15-of-83 (21:38.80, 15 pts)
Hailey Budd – 26-of-83 (22:32.10, 26 pts)
Ariel Boyd-Ghani – 27-of-83 (22:36.80, 27 pts)
Kimberley Zahm – 41-of-83 (24:33.90, 40 pts)