WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Presbyterian College men's cross country team competed in the 2009 New Balance Big South Men's Cross Country Championship presented by UCS and Penguin Sport-Wash at the Shady Oaks course in Winston-Salem, N.C. on Saturday morning.? Due to the transition to Division I, the Blue Hose were not scored as a team.

Junior Nicholas Baer led the way for the Blue Hose on the rainy course.? Baer crossed the line in 29:31 followed closely by senior Adam Harris at 29:38.? Rounding out the team's finishers were sophomore Josh Morrisette (31:19), senior Hunter Barnhardt (32:59), and freshman Brian Trail (33:14).

The Liberty Flames won the 2009 New Balance Big South Men's Cross Country Championship.? The Flames' Samuel Chelanga finished first in the men's 8k to take home Runner of the Year honors.

Liberty posted 33 points, followed by High Point (46 points) and Coastal Carolina (59).? In fourth place was Virginia Military Institute with 107 points and UNC Asheville closed the top five with 133 points.? In sixth was Winthrop with 150 points and seventh was Charleston Southern with 199 points.? Gardner-Webb (225) and Radford (247) rounded out the rest of the competing teams.

Liberty's Brant Tolsma was named Coach of the Year, while Jacob Smith of High Point earned freshman of the Year honors.? Gardner-Webbs's Jason Wenzel was named the Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

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