CARROLLTON, Ga. – Picking up right where she left off last season, senior Carla Catala Martin (Barcelona, Spain) took home top honors and led Clayton State women's cross country to a first place finish at the UWG Wolves XC Season Opener on Friday, August 31. As a team they totaled 25 points, just ahead of host West Georgia's 30.
 
Catala Martin continued an incredible stretch as she led the Lakers for the 12^th straight time, dating back to September 10, 2016 at the Bobcat Invitational. That was also her first meet as a Laker. This time she hit a mark of 21:00.40 to lead a field of 17 runners.
 
She was joined by senior Ariel Boyd-Ghani (Morrow, Ga.) in third with a time of 21:56.04 and three individuals in spots six through eight. Leading that group was senior Lynnet Kosgei (Eldoret, Kenya) at 22:44.16 with junior Laura Shkembi (Oostende, Belgium) notching a time of 23:06.59 and freshman Stephanie Escobar (Forest Park, Ga.) coming in at 23:38.60. Freshman Grainne Lane (Waterford, Ireland) rounded out the day with a time of 30:59.08.
 
Clayton State will be back in action just over two weeks from now when they head to Beech Island, South Carolina for the Jaguar Cross Country Invitational. That will be a 5k event hosted by Augusta on Saturday, September 15. That meet will also be a preview of the 2018 Peach Belt Conference Championships which will be held there on November 3.
 
NOTES
Shkembi's time of 23:06.59 was a 5k personal best, surpassing her previous mark of 22:44.87 at the Cougar Cross Country Invitational (9/23/17).
 
Clayton State Finishers at UWG Wolves XC Season Opener
Carla Catala Martin – 1-of-17 (21:00.40)
Ariel Boyd-Ghani – 3-of-17 (21:56.04)
Lynnet Kosgei – 6-of-17 (22:44.16)
Laura Shkembi – 7-of-17 (23:06.59)
Stephanie Escobar – 8-of-17 (23:38.60)
Grainne Lane – 14-of-17 (30:59.08)