Cavs Runners Hold Their Own at Blue Ridge Open

October 11, 2007

Boone, NC – The UVa-Wise cross country teams were not at full strength but the runners produced some good results against NCAA Division I competition at Appalachian State’s Blue Ridge Open on Friday evening.

A total of six Cavs competed out of the men’s and women’s teams. Freshman Brittany Killough held what has become her usual top team finish with an eighth place time of 18:50 for the 5k event and was the top first year finisher.

Tamara Haack was the lone other woman’s runner, as she ran a 22:57 for 168th place in the 189 runner field.

The men’s four runners faced stiff competition in a 218 runner field of NCAA DI’s Texas, UNC, Duke and Appalachian State while DII powers Lees-McRae and Mars Hill add to the race. Freshman Collin Skeen topped his personal best time by 1:01 for a time of 27:01 (111th). Two other Cavs set their personal top times as well in sophomore Stephen Gregory (28:18 – 115th) and freshman Spencer Adams (29:17 – 182nd), who better their marks by 32 and 36 seconds. Senior Britten Olinger rounded out the UVa-Wise contingent with a 31:32 time (211th).

Both UVa-Wise squads will be back to full squads at next Saturday’s 18th annual Southeastern Classic in Nashville, Tennessee in a final tune-up to the Appalachian Athletic Conference/NAIA Region XII Championships.