The rainy weather wasn’t enough to slow down the Winston-Salem State Lady Rams cross country team which finished third at the UNC-Pembroke Invitational. Despite the rainy conditions, the Lady Rams team showed its strength at the present and gave a glimpse into the future of WSSU women’s cross country.

The women’s teams ran just three miles due to the inclement weather, but the Lady Rams battled through to finish third in the event. Host UNC-Pembroke and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian placed first and second. The Lady Rams did beat out North Carolina Central, Coker, and Shaw.

“The team was awesome”, WSSU head coach Halcyon Blake said following the event. “It was raining so hard that you couldn’t even see the runners, but no one complained and they ran as a team.”

WSSU senior Irene Jeptolo posted her third straight top five finish at the event, placing third in the event in 19:33.39. In three years in the event, Jeptolo has finished fifth (2006), first (2007) and third (2008). Freshman Jasmine Whitener got her Lady Ram career off to a good start when she placed eighth in the event and posted a 20:36.77 on the clock.

The Lady Rams will return to action next weekend when the team heads to Raleigh, N.C. to take part in the Adidas Raleigh Invitational.