Dec. 4, 2002

2002 Women's Cross Country Highlights

Another Trip To NCAA's
* The women's cross country team made its fifth consecutive trip to the NCAA Championship in 2002. The Tar Heels finished in 21st place of 31 teams at the championship held in Terre Haute, Ind.

*Junior Shalane Flanagan made ACC and UNC history by winning the national championship with her record-setting time of 19:36 (6K). She became the first student-athlete in school and league history to win an NCAA Cross Country national championship.

* Flanagan won her second consecutive NCAA Female Cross Country Runner of the Year award after winning the event. NCAA Southeast Regional

* Flanagan won her third straight Southeast Regional title becoming the first Tar Heel to accomplish that feat, earning Southeast Runner of the Year.

* Flanagan, Sophomores Erin Donohue and Alice Schmidt, along with freshman Jessica Perry earned All-Southeast Region honors after finishing first, 15th, 24th and 25th, respectively. Atlantic Coast Conference Championship

* The Tar Heels placed fifth at the ACC Championship. Six teams qualified for the NCAA Championship from the conference.

* Flanagan became the second woman in ACC and UNC history to win three straight ACC championships (UNC's Karen Godlock 1994-96).

Regular Season Highlights
* Carolina finished in the Top 10 at the Great American Festival (4th), Asics/Pre-National Meet (7th) and NCAA Southeast Regional (4th).

* UNC captured the Campbell Invite title to open the season with Schmidt finishing first (15:07.8/4K).

2002 Men's Cross Country Highlights

NCAA Southeast Regional
* The Tar Heels competed with four individuals at the regional which did not allow them to qualify for a team score. Sophomore Brian McGovern finished 23rd at the event (30:47.3/10K) earning All-Southeast Region honors.

Atlantic Coast Conference Championship

* Carolina improved one spot in 2002 with a seventh-place finish at the conference championship in Atlanta, Ga. The Tar Heels were paced by McGovern who finished 13th with a time of 25:17.5 (8K). He fell two spots shy of All-ACC recognition.

Regular Season Highlights

* UNC placed first at the Campbell Invite and finished second at the UNC Challenge. McGovern finished second at both events.

* Carolina finished the Great American Festival in 18th place and the Asics/Pre-National Meet in 36th.