May 3, 2003

CROSBY WINS STEVE SCOTT INVITATIONAL 5000M RUN

IRVINE, California -- Furman University junior Kevin Crosby made quite a splash in his first competitive trip outside the southeast, winning the 5000m run at the UC-Irvine Steve Scott Invitational Saturday with a time of 14:54.86.

Crosby, who won the Southern Conference 10,000m run two weekends ago and then placed fourth in the 5000m a day later, took first in the field of 25 and came within 20 seconds of the Furman 5000m record (14:25.00), which was set in 1978 by David Branch, another SoCon 10,000m champion.

"In all the years I've been bringing select athletes out to this Invitational, this is the first time we have ever come home with a victory," said Furman coach Gene Mullin. "Kevin didn't know how he stacked up to the competition, but he ran a very tactical, smart race, and came away with the win. It was a great effort."