Take Me Back Tuesday: Women's Cross Country Earns 1st Regional Title in 7 Years

By Demetrius Anderson

On October 26, 2019, CCBC Essex women's cross country earned its first NJCAA Region XX Division I Championship since 2012 at the Region XX/ Maryland Juco Athletic Conference Championship meet.

Gabrielle Turner (Forest Park) and Karson Marcellino (Eastern Tech) played a pivotal role in winning the regional title.

In the last 100 meters, Turner surpassed the No. 3 finisher to earn second place and Marcellino finished two spots behind her, earning fourth place in the meet.

Amber Pearce (Dundalk) battled an ankle injury to contribute to the team and ran very well. Genevieve LaFon (Lock Raven) battled an injury as well, as she was the only runner to run a personal best on the women's side.

Marisa Hernandez (Eastern Tech) and Alisa Lawton (Dundalk) also contributed a well-rounded race for the Knights.

Essex finished runners up for the conference title, missing it by just four points.

Both Turner and Marellino earned All-Region XX and All-Maryland Juco honors. Additionally, both earned spots in Essex's Top 10 for the 5k and top five in school history for the 6k.

Turner and Marcellino ran next at the NJCAA Division I Women's Cross Country Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico.