Sept. 4, 2009

Duke Sweeps N.C. Central to Open Season

DURHAM, N.C. - Both the men's and women's Duke cross country squads started the 2009 season on a strong note, winning a season-opening dual meet over N.C. Central on Tuesday. The men's team compiled 15 points, compared to 40 by the Eagles, while the women's team totaled 22 points to N.C. Central's 33.

The Blue Devil men's team placed all its competitors in the top seven with a trio of Duke rookies taking the top three spots. Freshman Mike Moverman completed the 4K race in 11:56 to claim the top spot, followed closely by classmates Jonathan Sanchez and Dominick Robinson in 11:57 and 11:58, respectively. Sophomores Guillermo Echarte (12:06) and Jonathan Chu (12:12), freshman Dan Schuchinsky (12:23) and sophomore Brendan Pierson (12:29) rounded out the top seven competitors to complete the Blue Devils' sweep.

On the women's side, N.C. Central's Desinia Johnson crossed the finish line in 15:35 for the first-place finish, but Duke swept the next four spots as freshman Sophia Zieman, junior Kristina Krasich and sophomores Amanda Truelove and Virginia Hine all completed the 4K race in 16:02. Junior Katie Apibunyopas finished in 17:22, good for eighth place.

Clemson Cross Country Opens Season at Gamecock Invitational

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Kelsey Armstrong made her debut with the Clemson varsity cross country team Friday evening and did not disappoint. The junior from Talbott, Tenn. was the top individual finisher in the 5K Gamecock Invitational, leading the partial women's squad to a second-place team finish behind host South Carolina. Armstrong's winning time was 17:51.03 at Hilton Field at Fort Jackson.

Another newcomer, freshman Lauren Reen, recorded a top-10 finish. She placed sixth overall with a time of 18:32.31. Alyssa Kulik was a third member of the women's program to place inside the top 10. She was 10th with a time of 18:52.63. Taylor Hughes (14th - 19:14.52) and Candace Sapp (20th - 19:47.55) also logged scoring efforts for the Tigers, who were without their top performers in junior Jenna Baker and sophomore Kim Ruck.

Only five men competed for Clemson on Friday. Jonathan Sunde was the top competitor, finishing runner-up in the men's 5K race. He posted a time of 15:37.

Virginia Tech sweeps Virginia Tech Cross Country Relays

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech cross country squads swept their season opener on Friday, as the Hokie men tallied 10 points and the women's unit earned six points to capture the Virginia Tech Cross Country Relay titles on the Tech Cross Country Course.

On the men's side, Tech finished one, two, three to ensure the 14,000-meter race crown. The duo of freshman Jason Cusack and sophomore Chris Walizer teamed up to take first place with a combined time of 45:05. The Hokie women also fared well on the night. Juniors Lindsey King and Jessica Trapeni paired up and won the 10,000-meter race with a shared clocking of 37:22.

Deacons Capture Third Consecutive Title at Wake Forest Relays

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The women's cross country team opened the season in an exciting fashion by defending its title at the Wake Forest Relays. The team finished first with six points, followed by UNC Greensboro with 24 and High Point with 27 on a cloudless Friday evening at the Cross Country Trail located beside the Water Tower Fields on Wake Forest's campus.

Sophomore Anna Nosenko notched the best individual two-leg 5-kilometer time of 17:14. Her total was four seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, sister Dina Nosenko. Wake Forest boasted eight of the top 12 combined individual times, along with six pairs finishing in the top 10 groups. Junior Marley Burns was fourth overall with a time of 18:02, and redshirt sophomore Caitlin Crawford placed fifth with 18:30.

Florida State Cross Country Teams Take Covered Bridge By Storm

BOONE, N.C. - The Florida State cross country teams hit the ground running earlier today in its first meet of the season at the Covered Bridge Open where both the men and women dominated the meet with a first place trophy to prove it. The women posted 22 points while the men scored 32 points to capture the titles at the State Farm Fields.

Leading the women was senior Amanda Quick in her dominating first place run of 18:12.3 followed by Jennifer Dunn in second place with a time of 18:12.9. Junior Andrea Palen posted a time of 18:27.5 to take fifth place while senior Christina Woytalewicz and Kacey Gibson rounded off the top 10 in sixth (18:34.2) and eighth place (18:46.5), respectively.

Hurricanes Wrap-Up Delayed Greentree Invitational

CORAL GABLES - The University of Miami cross country teams opened their season with the Greentree Invitational at Roger and Penny Thompson Park. The Hurricanes hosted five South Florida teams on the rain soaked course Friday night.

Sophomore Janet Price led the women's squad with a time of 19:46.56 and was the third overall finisher in the 5K race. Her teammate, junior Anna Bona finished right behind her at 19:47.56. Junior Charles Michel was the men's top competitor as he placed seventh with a time of 16:16.47 in his first race as a Hurricane on the four mile course. Senior Julio Bonilla was the second finisher for the men at 16:16.47.

Georgia Tech Cross Country Outrun in Dual with Dogs

Bishop, Ga. - The Georgia Tech men's and women's cross country teams fell to the Georgia Bulldogs by identical 50-15 scores in the Tech-Georgia Dual Friday evening in Bishop, Ga.

The Bulldog women had a strong day in the 5,000-meter course as they were able to pace the first 11 positions before the Jackets first runner, junior Felicity Brower, crossed the line in a time of 19:19. Just like the women, the Bulldog men received the lowest point total possible as the first nine runners in the 8,000-meter run wore red and black. Senior Billy Mateker paced Tech with a 26:28 outing for 10th-place. Freshman Patrick Barron was right behind Mateker - one second to be exact - with a 26:29 for 11th-place overall.