November 2, 2002

Release: Upon Receipt

Furman's Crosby Finishes Second At Southern Conference Championships

Hollywood, South Carolina -- Appalachian State¹s men and women made a clean sweep at the 2002 Cross Country Championships this morning in Hollywood, SC. Furman finished fifth in the men's race and fourth in the women's event.

Both teams edged out Chattanooga to win this year¹s title. Appalachian State won the meet with 63 points, edging Chattanooga by five points. Western Carolina finished third with 74 points, followed by ETSU (83), Furman (99) and Davidson (140). The Citadel took home seventh (203) with VMI (214), UNCG (225), College of Charleston (291) and Wofford (342) rounding out the field.

This is ASU¹s seventh cross country title and third straight. The Mountaineers won the 2001 meet en route to winning the triple crown in the 2001-02 season.

Chattanooga sophomore Gediminas Banevicius won the individual title with a time of 24:50.20, earning him Runner of the Year honors. Kevin Crosby from Furman finished second in a time of 24:55.04 with Western Carolina¹s Adam Pruett turning in a third-place time of 24:58.14. ETSU sophomore Bradley Yewer finished fourth and was the highest finisher from the 2001 meet. Yewer¹s teammate James Grufferty earned the Freshman of the Year award with a time of 25:17.70.

ASU head coach Mike Curcio was named the Coach of the Year by his peers.

On the women¹s side, Appalachian State took home the crown with 43 points, followed by Chattanooga with 60 points and Davidson (70). Furman finished fourth with 87 points, followed by UNCG (142), ETSU (182) and Georgia Southern (200). Western Carolina finished eighth with 201 points with VMI (222), College of Charleston (269), Wofford (338) and The Citadel (364) rounding out the field.

This is ASU¹s eighth title and first since 1996. UTC sophomore Shannon Womack earned the Runner of the Year award with her winning time of 17:42.06. Womack was the 2001 Freshman of the Year and finished second in last year¹s meet.

A tri of ASU runners took the next three spots in senior Sarah Primeau (17:49.48), Katie Sujkowski (18:03.07) and Jennifer Kelley (18:06.99). Kelley was also named the Freshman of the Year. Chattanooga¹s Gina Recher, the 2001 individual champion, finished fifth.

Davidson head coach Jennifer Straub earned the Coach of the Year honors.

2002 Men¹s Cross Country
1. Appalachian State 63
2. Chattanooga 68
3. Western Carolina 74
4. East Tennessee State 83
5. Furman 99
6. Davidson 140
7. The Citadel 203
8. VMI 214
9. UNC Greensboro 225
10. College of Charleston 291
11. Wofford 342

Freshman of the Year: James Grufferty, ETSU
Runner of the Year: Gediminas Banevicius, UTC
Coach of the Year: Mike Curcio, ASU

2002 Women¹s Cross Country
1. Appalachian State 43
2. Chattanooga 60
3. Davidson 70
4. Furman 87
5. UNC Greensboro 142
6. East Tennessee State 182
7. Georgia Southern 200
8. Western Carolina 210
9. VMI 222
10. College of Charleston 269
11. Wofford 338
12. The Citadel 364

Freshman of the Year: Jennifer Kelley, ASU
Runner of the Year: Shannon Womack, UTC
Coach of the Year: Jennifer Straub, Davidson

Find complete results at WWW.SoConSports.com