The Presbyterian College's men's and women's cross country
teams took important steps towards establishing themselves within the ranks of
the Big South Conference during the 2009 season.? Although both teams suffered from small team numbers, both
showed improvement from week to week and looked their strongest at the Big
South Conference's Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships in High Point,
N.C.
Season highlights for both teams included traveling to South
Carolina, Winthrop, Furman, and High Point.? Both teams had their best showing at the Blue Hose
Invitational.? The women's team
claimed third while the men earned fourth.
Seniors Regan Hayes and Mellette Johnson led the women's
team in practice and on race day.?
The duo established their career bests at the Blue Hose Invitational
with Hayes claiming ninth (21:23) and Johnson tenth (21:24).
Sophomore Stephanie Newell also ran her best on the home
course (21:36).? Compared to her
overall times from 2008, Newell showed a 22 second improvement at South
Carolina and 33 seconds at the conference race.
Junior Natalie Parkman and sophomore Emily Cain had solid
performances at South Carolina's Gamecock Invitational.? Cain claimed a lifetime PR of 24:36,
and Parkman bested her sophomore time with a 24:18 showing.
A trio of first year runners had an impact on the team.? Sophomore Sabrina Baker joined the
squad mid-season and set a 5k PR of 22:12 at the home race before suffering an
injury in the late season.?
Freshmen Madalyn Hull and Emily Witt frequented the team's
top-five.? Witt's best race saw her
cross the finish line in a time of 22:50 while Hull saw 23:13.
Junior Nicholas Baer led the men's team for most of the
season, sharing the responsibility with senior Adam Harris on two
occasions.? Baer set a 5k PR to
start the season (17:10) and then had a season's best 28:26 at Winthrop.? Harris was never far behind, having a
season's best time of 28:46 during the Blue Hose Invitational where he finished
fifth.
Sophomore transfer Josh Morrisette overcame a midseason
ailment to run his best during the season's final race.? He stopped the clock at High Point with
a time of 30:19.
Senior Hunter Barnhardt saw his best race at home (32:30) as
did freshman Brian Trail (33:08).?
Sophomore Will Ruark saw limited action while overcoming off-season
surgery.? His best 8k came at
Winthrop (34:49).
Like two seasons ago, coach Thad Palmer will take his teams
to a few track meets during the spring.?
The off-season competition will help mature the returning runners and
keep the team's fitness level up leading into summer training.
In addition to a strong recruiting class, the Blue Hose will
return six women and five men to next year's squads.? Included in the returners will be Harris, who will be a
fifth-year senior.
?