Carson-Newman’s Morris Advances To Women’s Cross Country National Championship

WINGATE, N.C. -- The Lees-McRae College women's cross team placed three runners in the top 12 to take home the title at the 2008 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional meet Saturday morning on the Wingate campus.

Lees-McRae won the race with 85 points, defeating Augusta State University. The Jaguars finished second with 110 points. Both teams will advance to the NCAA Championship on November 22 at Coopers Lake Campground Slippery Rock, Pa.

Lenoir-Rhyne University finished third with 158 points, followed by Columbus State University with 177 points and Georgia College & State University in fifth with 194 points.

Individually, Allison Kreutzer of Clayton State won the title with a time of 22:24. Kreutzer ran seven races in 2008; she won all seven races during her final collegiate campaign.

The top five individual finishers Saturday will also advance to the NCAA Championships along with Lees-McRae and Augusta State. Joining Kreutzer at nationals will be second-place finisher Aubrey Morris of Carson-Newman College, third-place finisher Whitney Bishoff of Anderson (S.C.) University, fourth-place finisher Alyson Trovato of St. Andrews Presbyterian College and fifth-place finisher Jessica Neville of Queens (N.C.) University of Charlotte.

The Bobcats were led by Carla Stewart, who finished fifth with a time of 23:54. Kira Shoemaker and Gina Valenti finished 13th and 14th, respectively. Augusta State was led by Jenafer Forward, who was seventh with a time of 24:11. Savannah Sutton of Augusta State was 16th, while teammate Kara Kreutzer finished 20th.

The host Bulldogs finished eighth in the event with 251 points. Senior Ashley Condrey led the way with a time of 25:27 to finish 31st. Fellow senior Ashley Hubbard was 38th with a time of 25:40.

All Region Team

1. Allison Kreutzer, Clayton State 22:24
2. Aubrey Morris, Carson-Newman 23:03
3. Whitney Bishoff, Anderson (S.C.) 23:15
4. Alyson Trovato, St. Andrews 23:29
5. Jessica Neville, Queens (N.C.) 23:35
6. Carla Swart, Lees-McRae 23:54
7. Jenafer Forward, Augusta State 24:11
8. Kandace Smith, Columbus State 24:25
9. Kate Griewish, Lenoir-Rhyne 24:29
10. Alycia Andrade, Brevard 24:30
11. Kelly May, Francis Marion 24:33
12. Olivia Jacobs, Catawba 24:39
13. Kira Shoemaker, Lees-McRae 24:39
14.Gina Valenti, Lees-McRae 24:45
15. Andrea Whitaker, Colubus State 24:47

Team Results

1. Lees-McRae, 85
2. Augusta State, 110
3. Lenoir-Rhyne, 158
4. Columbus State, 177
5. Georgia College & State, 194
6. Converse, 217
7. North Georgia, 236
8. Wingate, 251
9. Carson-Newman, 255
10. Queens (N.C.), 278
11. Catawba, 284
12. St. Andrews, 308
13. Coker, 334
14. Anderson (S.C.), 336
15. Limestone, 340
16. USC Aiken, 349
17. Mars Hill, 371
18. Erskine, 413
19. Pfeiffer, 437
20. Francis Marion, 464
21. Newberry, 548
22. Belmont Abbey, 591