CSU Cross Country Opens 2009 at Berry College Invitational

CSU's runners finished 2nd in the men's race and 4th in the women's this morning at the Berry College Invitational.

The Cougar men posted four times in the top fifteen of their race, including the first and second place runners.  CSU newcomers Meshack Koyiaki (1st place - 24:32) and Nicholas Kering (2nd place - 25:01) both transferred from Chattahoochee Technical College and promise to bring outstanding times to the cross country scoreboard.  Returning junior John Neill (13th place - 26:52) and fourth-year senior Stewart Helton (14th place - 26:54) kept the Cougar's finishing times weighted to the front of the 20-team pack and helped to secure CSU's final score of 61 points for second place behind Bryan College with 44 points, and ahead of Shorter with 89 points.  PBC member Clayton placed 6th in the men's competition with 137 points.

Also placing for CSU were freshman Andy Henderson (27:39, 31), senior David Marley (28:03, 40), and sophomore Nathan Prickett (28:46, 59).

The Lady Cougars also ran in a 26-team race at Berry and posted three runners in the top twenty for a fourth place score of 121 points, behind top three teams Berry (56 points), Shorter (76 points) and Lee (89 points).  Returning CSU junior Brittney Skiles lived up to her 2nd Team All-Conference nomination for 2008 with an 8th place finish at 19:50.  Newcomers Kelli Arnold (13th place - 20:13) and Naomi Tanui (17th place - 20:26) also found sure footing in CSU's opening race for the 2009 season.

Senior Tiara Brown (21:06, 34), freshman Moneka English (21:33, 49), junior Ashley Arnold (21:38, 52), and freshman Hope Ard (23:42, 79) also finished for CSU.

Both cross country teams will travel to Dawson, GA, for the Darton Invitational next Saturday, September 19, and to the Mercer Invitational in Macon, GA, in two weeks on September 26.