Date Posted: 10/27/2005

Macon, Ga. – The fall championship season gets off to a running start on October 29 at the 2005 Atlantic Sun Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships hosted by Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C.

The men’s 8K race will kick off the event at 9:00 am on the Campbell Cross Country Course. Belmont has won three straight conference titles and has topped each of the league’s five coaches polls throughout the season, collecting eight of 11 first place votes in the most recent. The Bruins own four of the top-8 8K times in the conference this season led by Brad Polley’s 25:30 posted at the Notre Dame Invitational. The Bruins have finished in the top-10 in every event this season including a pair of runner-up finishes.

Newcomers Kennesaw State and ETSU each received first place votes as well in the last coaches poll and are aiming to be the first team to carry an A-Sun title back to their campuses. The Owls are led by a strong duo who have the fastest 8K marks in the league. Jason Waters is the only A-Sun runner to break the 25:00 mark in that distance with his 24:37.75 at the Auburn Invitational while teammate Lukasz Skrzypiec logged a 25:15.38 in the same race. The Buccaneers have finished in the top-5 in each race this year including a team title at the Greensboro Invitational.

The only runner to post a top-10 time this year not on one of the before-mentioned squads is two-time A-Sun Runner of the Week Jeremy Helf of the host Camels.

The women’s race will follow at around 10:30 am with Belmont looking to match the conference record with their fifth consecutive title. The Bruins have won each meet since joining the A-Sun in 2001 yet have never boasted an individual champion. Belmont stood atop the league poll all season long, but saw their advantage over second place shrink to the point where the Bruins and Camels stand neck-and-neck. Overall, four teams received first place votes by the coaches.

Belmont’s has a trio of returning All-Atlantic Sun selections in Lauren Williams, Elizabeth Benson and Elizabeth Smothers in addition to Lindsay Honea have all posted top-15 times. Three-time A-Sun Runner of the Week Alicia Valtin will be a key component in Campbell’s bid for the title. Upstart Kennesaw State owns two of the top-3 5K times posted in the league this year with Patrina Haynes scorching the rest of the conference with a 17:03.07 at the Auburn Invitational, over 28 seconds faster than second place. Fellow Owl Erin Sutton’s 17:31.46 is the conference’s third best time.

Following both races, the Runner of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Coach of the Year, All-Atlantic Sun and A-Sun All-Freshman awards will be announced.

Related Links:
 • Men's Championship Page
 • Women's Championship Page