University of Georgia Athletics
Samantha Drop Opens Cross Season With Win
August 31, 2019 | Cross Country
ATHENS, Ga. --- Georgia junior Samantha Drop highlighted her team's cross country season opener by winning the Bulldog Invitational at the UGA Golf Course on Saturday morning.
Drop, a native of Durham, Conn., whose twin sister Jessica trained through the meet, picked up a 12-second victory with a 13:14.7 on the 4k course. This marked Samantha Drop's second career win and first since capturing the 2017 NCAA South Regional title. Drop was second at the Georgia's regular season meet two years ago behind her sister Jessica.
The Lady Bulldogs (37 points) finished second overall behind Georgia Tech (23). In the men's team race on a 6k course to start the day, the Yellow Jackets (15) also finished first and the Bulldogs (51) were the runner-up.
"I thought today was really interesting," said distance coach Patrick Cunniff. "It's always nice to get the season started on the golf course. The course looked amazing, and we appreciate everybody that helped with the set up.
"For the women, I'm really happy with the effort. I thought we executed the race plan very well. We didn't race Jessica Drop, and to see Samantha Drop inherit that place up at the front is a good sign. Our group of sophomores was led by Nicole Pachuta, who was in there fighting for what we wanted. Our freshmen showed a lot of fight. Ellie Hall, Maggie Yankovich and Caroline MacArthur really gave us a lot of good signs.
"I'm a little disappointed in the men's team. I think it may have been the early start, but the men were still asleep. The second half of the their race, we tried to get moving and didn't necessarily get where we wanted to.
"I'm happy as long as we get out of here healthy. We've got the season started, and now we know what to work on. It's a great start and a beautiful day."
Behind Drop, sophomore Nicole Pachuta, who was her team's top finisher in the 2018 opener, scored for the Lady Bulldogs for the second time in her career. She was fourth overall after registering a 13:45.7.
Fellow sophomore Skylar English also broke into the top 10 after registering a 13:59.9 for ninth. This was a two-spot improvement from her 2018 finish at the meet and was the fifth time she completed a race in Georgia's top five.
Another pair of underclassmen rounded out the scorers for the Lady Bulldogs. Sophomore Anna Marian Block was 11th with a 14:05.3 to score for the first time since being 43rd at the 2018 SEC Championships. Freshman Caroline McArthur made her collegiate debut and took 13th with a 14:13.2, making her the second first-year runner to finish.
On the men's side, redshirt freshman Nicholas Yanek ran his first cross meet in a Bulldog uniform and topped his teammates with an 18:38.0 for 10th place. Fifteenth at the 2018 home meet, junior Jack Bradley trimmed two spots off that finish to take 13th thanks to his 18:54.4 to be next across for UGA.
Redshirt sophomore Quinn Burden was also a top-20 finisher for Georgia and was the team's third scorer on Saturday. Burden ran a 19:02.9 in his first cross race since taking 27th at last year's home meet. Junior transfer Taylor Scarbrough, who redshirted in 2018, took 24th with a 19:12.1 to officially become a Bulldog in the cross country ranks.
Georgia rounded out its scorers with redshirt freshman Dru Milton, who was also competing in the red and black during the fall for the first time. Milton crossed the finish line in 27th place after recording a 19:15.5.
UGA will recover and then train through next weekend before traveling to Nashville, Tenn., for the Vanderbilt Invitational.
Results and recaps from all of Georgia's cross country meets will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on Twitter/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Quotes from Georgia's top female/male finishers
Samantha Drop
On how it feels to be back after redshirting last season…
"It feels amazing. I raced a little bit of track last year, but my favorite season is cross country. So it's amazing just being out there. The course is awesome."
On the team's performance, as well as her individual performance, and what she plans to carry over into the season…
"For me, today was about following Coach [Cunniff's] plan which was to stay behind the leaders for the first loop and then pick it up the second loop. After that first one, I wasn't sure if I could do it, but then I just pretended Jess [Drop] was with me and like we were training, and that helped me a lot. Our team's ultimate goal for the season is to get back to Nationals like we did two years ago, and hopefully to do better than we did [last year] and just come together as a team and make it more fun."
Nicholas Yanek
On overall thoughts of today's meet…
"I think everybody executed Coach's plan really well—it was full effort at the end."
On this being your first competition as a representing Georgia…
"Oh yeah, it was definitely exciting getting on the uniform cross country. I had an indoor track at least, but Coach Cunniff at the beginning of summer, he was like, 'Are you excited for cross [country] and it to be the first time with the uniform?' I was like, 'Yeah, I think I've only worn it like five times maybe. It's really exciting (representing) the 'G.'"
On takeaways from today's meet for the rest of the season…
"I think just looking at the progression of the race. I think that's the big takeaway from today, and that goes for everybody on the team. I think we're all just looking to test our strength and just see if we're able to stay in our strength at the beginning. Because the 10K, when we get to that at the end of the season, is incredibly long. We have to practice being under control and not killing ourselves in the beginning like Coach Cunniff said."
Team Scores
MEN
1. Georgia Tech – 15 pts.
2. GEORGIA – 51 pts.
3. Kennesaw State – 72 pts.
WOMEN
1. Georgia Tech – 23 pts.
2. GEORGIA – 37 pts.
3. Kennesaw State – 84 pts.
Georgia Men's Individual Finishes
MEN
1. Nicholas Yanek – 10th, 18:38.0
2. Jack Bradley – 13th, 18:54.4
3. Quinn Burden – 19th, 19:02.9
4. Taylor Scarbrough – 24th, 19:12.1
5. Dru Milton – 27th, 19:15.5
-----
6. Michael Malkowski – 28th, 19:19.8
7. Nicolas Fontova – 29th, 19:21.8
8. Davis Stockwell – 33rd, 19:32.3
9. Clay Pender – 39th, 20:14.4
Georgia Women's Individual Finishes
WOMEN
1. Samantha Drop – 1st, 13:14.7
2. Nicole Pachuta – 4th, 13:45.7
3. Skylar English – 9th, 13:59.9
4. Anna Marian Block – 11th, 14:05.3
5. Caroline McArthur – 13th, 14:13.2
-----
6. Ellie Hall – 14th, 14:14.1
7. Ansley Heavern – 18th, 14:19.6
8. Maggie Yankovich – 19th, 14:22.5
9. Grace Clements – 21st, 14:33.2
10. Sara Bailey – 25th, 14:43.4
11. Marisa Petit – 26th, 14:43.6
12. Emily Doherty – 29th, 15:14.7
13. Erika Plummer - 30th, 15:19.5
14. Ani Henderson – 38th, 17:31.4
Drop, a native of Durham, Conn., whose twin sister Jessica trained through the meet, picked up a 12-second victory with a 13:14.7 on the 4k course. This marked Samantha Drop's second career win and first since capturing the 2017 NCAA South Regional title. Drop was second at the Georgia's regular season meet two years ago behind her sister Jessica.
The Lady Bulldogs (37 points) finished second overall behind Georgia Tech (23). In the men's team race on a 6k course to start the day, the Yellow Jackets (15) also finished first and the Bulldogs (51) were the runner-up.
"I thought today was really interesting," said distance coach Patrick Cunniff. "It's always nice to get the season started on the golf course. The course looked amazing, and we appreciate everybody that helped with the set up.
"For the women, I'm really happy with the effort. I thought we executed the race plan very well. We didn't race Jessica Drop, and to see Samantha Drop inherit that place up at the front is a good sign. Our group of sophomores was led by Nicole Pachuta, who was in there fighting for what we wanted. Our freshmen showed a lot of fight. Ellie Hall, Maggie Yankovich and Caroline MacArthur really gave us a lot of good signs.
"I'm a little disappointed in the men's team. I think it may have been the early start, but the men were still asleep. The second half of the their race, we tried to get moving and didn't necessarily get where we wanted to.
"I'm happy as long as we get out of here healthy. We've got the season started, and now we know what to work on. It's a great start and a beautiful day."
Behind Drop, sophomore Nicole Pachuta, who was her team's top finisher in the 2018 opener, scored for the Lady Bulldogs for the second time in her career. She was fourth overall after registering a 13:45.7.
Fellow sophomore Skylar English also broke into the top 10 after registering a 13:59.9 for ninth. This was a two-spot improvement from her 2018 finish at the meet and was the fifth time she completed a race in Georgia's top five.
Another pair of underclassmen rounded out the scorers for the Lady Bulldogs. Sophomore Anna Marian Block was 11th with a 14:05.3 to score for the first time since being 43rd at the 2018 SEC Championships. Freshman Caroline McArthur made her collegiate debut and took 13th with a 14:13.2, making her the second first-year runner to finish.
On the men's side, redshirt freshman Nicholas Yanek ran his first cross meet in a Bulldog uniform and topped his teammates with an 18:38.0 for 10th place. Fifteenth at the 2018 home meet, junior Jack Bradley trimmed two spots off that finish to take 13th thanks to his 18:54.4 to be next across for UGA.
Redshirt sophomore Quinn Burden was also a top-20 finisher for Georgia and was the team's third scorer on Saturday. Burden ran a 19:02.9 in his first cross race since taking 27th at last year's home meet. Junior transfer Taylor Scarbrough, who redshirted in 2018, took 24th with a 19:12.1 to officially become a Bulldog in the cross country ranks.
Georgia rounded out its scorers with redshirt freshman Dru Milton, who was also competing in the red and black during the fall for the first time. Milton crossed the finish line in 27th place after recording a 19:15.5.
UGA will recover and then train through next weekend before traveling to Nashville, Tenn., for the Vanderbilt Invitational.
Results and recaps from all of Georgia's cross country meets will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on Twitter/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Quotes from Georgia's top female/male finishers
Samantha Drop
On how it feels to be back after redshirting last season…
"It feels amazing. I raced a little bit of track last year, but my favorite season is cross country. So it's amazing just being out there. The course is awesome."
On the team's performance, as well as her individual performance, and what she plans to carry over into the season…
"For me, today was about following Coach [Cunniff's] plan which was to stay behind the leaders for the first loop and then pick it up the second loop. After that first one, I wasn't sure if I could do it, but then I just pretended Jess [Drop] was with me and like we were training, and that helped me a lot. Our team's ultimate goal for the season is to get back to Nationals like we did two years ago, and hopefully to do better than we did [last year] and just come together as a team and make it more fun."
Nicholas Yanek
On overall thoughts of today's meet…
"I think everybody executed Coach's plan really well—it was full effort at the end."
On this being your first competition as a representing Georgia…
"Oh yeah, it was definitely exciting getting on the uniform cross country. I had an indoor track at least, but Coach Cunniff at the beginning of summer, he was like, 'Are you excited for cross [country] and it to be the first time with the uniform?' I was like, 'Yeah, I think I've only worn it like five times maybe. It's really exciting (representing) the 'G.'"
On takeaways from today's meet for the rest of the season…
"I think just looking at the progression of the race. I think that's the big takeaway from today, and that goes for everybody on the team. I think we're all just looking to test our strength and just see if we're able to stay in our strength at the beginning. Because the 10K, when we get to that at the end of the season, is incredibly long. We have to practice being under control and not killing ourselves in the beginning like Coach Cunniff said."
Team Scores
MEN
1. Georgia Tech – 15 pts.
2. GEORGIA – 51 pts.
3. Kennesaw State – 72 pts.
WOMEN
1. Georgia Tech – 23 pts.
2. GEORGIA – 37 pts.
3. Kennesaw State – 84 pts.
Georgia Men's Individual Finishes
MEN
1. Nicholas Yanek – 10th, 18:38.0
2. Jack Bradley – 13th, 18:54.4
3. Quinn Burden – 19th, 19:02.9
4. Taylor Scarbrough – 24th, 19:12.1
5. Dru Milton – 27th, 19:15.5
-----
6. Michael Malkowski – 28th, 19:19.8
7. Nicolas Fontova – 29th, 19:21.8
8. Davis Stockwell – 33rd, 19:32.3
9. Clay Pender – 39th, 20:14.4
Georgia Women's Individual Finishes
WOMEN
1. Samantha Drop – 1st, 13:14.7
2. Nicole Pachuta – 4th, 13:45.7
3. Skylar English – 9th, 13:59.9
4. Anna Marian Block – 11th, 14:05.3
5. Caroline McArthur – 13th, 14:13.2
-----
6. Ellie Hall – 14th, 14:14.1
7. Ansley Heavern – 18th, 14:19.6
8. Maggie Yankovich – 19th, 14:22.5
9. Grace Clements – 21st, 14:33.2
10. Sara Bailey – 25th, 14:43.4
11. Marisa Petit – 26th, 14:43.6
12. Emily Doherty – 29th, 15:14.7
13. Erika Plummer - 30th, 15:19.5
14. Ani Henderson – 38th, 17:31.4
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
Cross Country - 2025 SEC Championships Recap
Saturday, November 01
Georgia Cross Country NCAA South Regional Championship Video Recap
Friday, November 10
Georgia Cross Country SEC Championship Video Recap
Friday, October 27
Georgia Cross Country Regionals Highlights
Friday, November 11