Sept. 14, 2007

Boone, N.C. - The North Carolina cross country teams competed at the Mountaineer Open Friday afternoon as the women took home the title and men finished a point out of first place. Senior Megan Kaltenbach claimed first place with a time of 17:59.55 on the women's side. Both teams will travel to South Bend, Ind. for the Notre Dame Invitational on Friday, Sept. 28.

In a damp and rainy day in Boone, N.C. the Carolina cross country teams finished within a point of a sweep at the Mountaineer Open. The women opened the action on the 5K course as Megan Kaltenbach blew away the field with a time of 17:59.55 more than 30 seconds faster than the next closest runner. Finishing second for the Tar Heels and in the race was Addie Bracy who clocked in at a time of 18:30.12.

Carolina took five of the top seven spots picking up just 21 points for the victory. The Tar Heels took spots 5-7 as Morgan Stengel led the group across the line at a time of 18:57.50 just ahead of Lauren Holesh at 18:58.05. Kristy Longman finished out the scoring for Carolina in seventh with a time of 19:07.21. Finishing in the sixth and seventh slots for Carolina were Emily Hoffman (13th; 19:25.60) and Alexis Deegan (16th; 19:35.79).

On the men's side, Alex Ray paced the Tar Heels once again as he clocked in at a time of of 20:21 for third place overall. Zach Dawson and Tristram Thomas were right on Ray's heels taking home fourth and fifth with times of 20:25 and 20:26.

Nick Hutchins finished fourth for the Tar Heels in at a time of 20:30 claiming ninth place overall. Brock Baker rounded out the scoring finishing 12th with a time of 20:54.

Four seconds seemed to be the distance between winner Appalachian State and the second place Tar Heels. Ray finished four seconds behind Appalachian State's top runner, before Hutchins and Baker were four seconds away from earning one fewer point and a potential Tar Heel win.

The Tar Heels will have a week off before heading north for the Notre Dame Invitational on Sept. 28.