Region meet a showcase for Bobcats

The runners of the GCSU cross country teams crossed the finish line for the last time this season at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships this past Saturday at host Wingate University in Wingate, N.C.

The women’s team took fourth place at the regional meet, the best finish in school history.

Coach Joe Samprone said he was proud of his runners and the great effort they put into this season.

“The women’s team ran as I hoped they would and as I expected them to run,” Samprone said. “This is the best women’s team in Georgia College history. The college should be very proud of them.”

Senior Heather Raines took 28th overall at 25:19 in her final race for GCSU. Raines led the women’s team in five of the seven meets this season.

“I think the race went really awesome,” Raines said. “It was my last race and everything just went really well. We did as well as we could have done, so I was thrilled.”

The women’s team fared well on the 6K course on Saturday because of their season-long training to be stronger and stronger for each race. The top five women runners finished within forty seconds of each other and proved once again how tight-knit of a team they are.

“Every one of the runners on the women’s team gave their all – all season long,” Samprone said. “Giving their all really paid off.”

Sophomore Karissa Ekstrom was just two seconds behind Raines, placing 29th at 25:21.

“We ran really well as a team,” Ekstrom said. “I was really proud of how both teams ran.”

Senior Virginia Balkcom crossed the finish line just four seconds later, coming in 31st.

“The perfect weather and the support of our families coming out made it a perfect day for a race,” Raines said. “All the seniors’ parents came out and it just meant so much to all of us.”

Fourth on the squad, junior Dani Destiche came in at 25:41 and 41st overall. Sophomore Victoria Dobson ran the course in 25:59 and placed 47th overall.

“They reached their potential,” Samprone said. “I have no concern in saying that this is the best women’s team in the history of Georgia College.”

The women’s team had 171 team points, 67 behind third-place Lees-McRae College. Winner of the Peach Belt Conference, Columbus State, took the regional title by just one point over Queens (N.C.) University with 68 team points.

The GCSU men’s team finished in 11th place at the meet after struggling through a season of illness and injuries.

Sophomore Rob Manning led the team in 45th overall with a time of 35:08 in the 10K race. Manning holds the school record in this distance and his time was good for eighth on the all-time list.

“I think we all ran the way we wanted to,” Manning said. “The way the season was going, it was a good finish.”

Junior Tim Cary came in 72nd overall at 36:10. Sophomores Travis Knight and Colin Conroy took 75th and 76th respectively. Knight and Conroy finished neck-and-neck, both coming in at 36:23.

“The men’s team was in better shape physically at regionals than they were at conference,” Samprone said. “Everyone looked bright and happy, but the illnesses and injuries during the season affected them in the long run.”

Senior Josh Hollar was 83rd in 36:38 to round out the Bobcat top five.

“It was a good race given all that happened,” Manning said.

The men’s team had 342 team points, 74 out of the top 10. Queens (N.C.) beat the winners of the Peach Belt Conference, Columbus State, for the team title with just 28 team points.

“This was just the perfect end to an awesome season,” Raines said. “Both coaches and all the teammates were very happy with a great ending to another season.”

The season was especially successful for the women’s team, as they finished in the top 10 of each race, taking the runner-up spot in the Peach Belt Conference Championship for the first time in school history, and winning the Southern Challenge race in Marietta.

“Georgia College should be very proud of their men’s and women’s cross country teams,” Samprone said. “This was a great season.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Nov 13 2009. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry