Cross Country Finishes In Top Three At UTC Front Runner Event

--- Bulldogs on the right track for OVC Championships ---

Oct. 14, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford men’s and women’s cross country had a great day today at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Front Runner Invitational, finishing second in the men’s 5K race and third in the women’s two-mile race. This is the second time that the Bulldogs have raced at Moccasin Bend this year.

“This is a tough trail, very hilly,” Bulldog Cross Country head coach Glenn McWaters said. “Especially for the women, the two mile course is a slow two miles.”

The women ran with eight other teams and finished behind Georgia Tech and host team Chattanooga. The men ran with five other teams and come in behind host team Chattanooga.

Katherine Herring was the top runner for the Bulldogs again, finishing third overall, with a time of 11:08. Britney Almaguer (11:32) and Robin DeBenedet (11:36) came in at eight and ninth place, respectively. Jessican Van Ausdall ran a time of 11:52, finishing 15^th, and Lauren Pilcher finished 29^th with a time of 12:53.

For the men, Cameron Bean finished seventh with a time of 15:43. Drew Anderwald (15:44) was right behind him in eighth place. Bo Brawner finished 11^th, running 15:53, and Blaise Carie finished 13^th, running 15:55. Michael Hanson finished 20^th with a time of 16:11.

“We showed a lot of progress from the last time we were here,” said McWaters. “We ran much faster, we looked good, and I was very pleased. I think we are prepared and on the right track to do well in conference in two weeks.”

The Bulldogs will participate in the Ohio Valley Conference Championships on Saturday, Oct. 28, in Clarksville, Tenn. The reigning OVC Champion Samford women’s cross country team will try to make it back-to-back championship, and the men will try for their first conference championship.

*** SAMFORD BULLDOGS ***