Feb. 16, 2003

Houston, Texas - NC State freshman Julia Lucas earned a chance to represent the United States at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships with a fifth place finish in Saturday's 2003 Junior USA Cross Country Championship Race in Houston, Texas.

Lucas, a member of NC State's 2003 ACC Championship squad, finished the 6,113 meter course with a time of 24 minutes, 25 seconds. Conditions were wet and muddy on the 2km figure-eight course. Lucas will now have the opportunity to travel to Lausanne, Switzerland, and represent the United States in the IFTT World Championships March 29-30.

Lucinda Hull, a first-year runner at NC State, finished 27th in the women's 4K senior/open race with a time of 17:16 held on Saturday. Freshman Lance Hall finished 49th in the men's junior 8K race with a time of 31:02.