October 13, 2002

Release: Upon Receipt

Furman Men Fifth, Women Third at Furman Cross Country Invitational

Greenville, South Carolina -- Furman's men's cross counrty team finished fifth and the women third at the annual Furman Ivitational Saturday morning at the Furman University Golf Course. The University of Tennessee took home first in the men's 8K run, while UNC Asheville finished first in the women's 5K run.

Junior Kevin Crosby (Matthews, N.C.) posted Furman's best finish with a fifth place showing in the men's race. Joseph Mutai of Kennesaw State camptured first with a time of 25:14.1. The University of Georgia's Pat Gildea and Phillip Brett placed second and third, respectively.

The Lady Paladins were paced by senior Bev Roberts' 13th place finish. Roberts completed the 5K course in 19:09.7, while Furman's Whitney Sharp finished 17th with a time of 19:25.7 The women's individual champion was freshamn Lauren Burks from Georgia. Burks posted a time of 17:53.9 to finish four seconds ahead of second place Maria Ghizzoni.

Earlier in the day Hoover High School from Hoover, Ala., claimed first place in the varsity high school boys race, while Bishop Kenny High School (Jacksonville, Fla.) grabbed first in the varsity girls race. Phillip Moore of Hoover was the top finisher in the varsity boys competition with a time of 16:09.3, while Bishop Kenny's Kelly Marshall led the girls field with a 19:07.4 The boys field featured 50 high schools and the women's race included 42 schools.

Complete results of all junior varsity, varsity and college races are available at www.furmanpaladins.com under the men's and women's cross country sections.