SU sweeps CAC Cross Country Championships, fourth straight title for men's team
THORNBURG, Va. - The Salisbury University men's and women's cross country teams had a banner day at the 2008 Capital Athletic Conference championships on Saturday at the Indian Acres Club hosted by University of Mary Washington. The SU men's team was superb and won their fourth consecutive CAC crown. Salisbury's women's team edged out reigning conference champion Mary Washington by two points to claim the program's fourth title in the past five years. This is the third time in the history of the program that both teams swept the CAC championships, the last time occurred in 2006.
The men's team was dominant en route to the program's sixth title in the past seven years under the guidance of SU coach Jim Jones. The Sea Gulls were seven points off a perfect score as they tallied 22 points, 16 ahead of second place finisher Mary Washington (38 points). York (Pa.) College was third with 75 points. Salisbury had six runners place in the top eight spots as the Sea Gulls swept second through fourth place.
"I am pleased with the guys winning the way they did," said Jones. "They ran a team race. To put six guys in the top eight is beyond what I thought we could do against a very good Mary Washington team. We started to roll around the three-mile mark. It ended up being a very dominating finish."
Salisbury was led by senior Zack Dickerson, who finished the 8K course in second place with a time of 27:16. Mary Washington's Frank DeVar won the race with a time of 26:34. This is the fourth straight championship for the SU men's senior class.
"It boils down to our seniors. This is their fourth conference championship," said Jones. "Zach has been the leader all year. He made sure the team understood what this championship meant to him and the program."
Junior Travis Boccher (27:28) and sophomore Sam Boimov (27:42) finished in third and fourth place, respectively. Sophomore Chris Barnard finished in sixth place with a time 27:49 while senior Bill Nastasiak (seventh place, 28:04) rounded out the top five for SU. All five individuals were named to the All-CAC first team. The top seven finishers earn All-CAC first team honors while the next eight runners earn All-CAC second team honors. Salisbury had two other members finish in the top 15 in junior Dustin Yourstone (8th place, 28:10) and freshman John Fitzgerald (15th place, 28:41) earned All-CAC second team honors. SU had two other runners finish in the top 20 as senior Ben Thomas (28:46) and freshman John Henderson (28:51) finished 17th and 18th, respectively.
On the women's side, Salisbury had to wait a grueling 20 minutes after the race to learn they had won.
"We thought after the meet we lost," said Jones. "It was that close."
Salisbury beat out Mary Washington by two points, 33 to 35, to reclaim the CAC championship after the Sea Gulls lost out to the Eagles last season by seven points. York (Pa.) College was third with 93 points.
"Our women from Day 1 [this season] were determined to redeem themselves and win this championship," said Jones. "I am so happy for our two seniors, Amy (DeMichele) and Jenn (Bulger), for being able to finish their careers on top."
Sophomore Kristin Stromberg led the way for Salisbury through the 6K course with a second place finish with a time of 24:10. Mary Washington sophomore Hayley Sullivan won the race as she broke away from the pack to win with a time of 22:53.
"Kristin has gotten better every race this season," said Jones. "She set the pace for our pack of women. She knew what was at stake and didn't want to let the team down."
The key moment for the women's team came in the final 150 meters of the race when Jenn Bulger (24:12) ran by Mary Washington's Sarah Dawes to claim third place. Amy DeMichele was close behind as she crossed the finish line in fifth place (24:29). Sophomore Masha Berge (seventh place, 24:33) was the fourth Sea Gull to earn All-CAC first team honors.
Salisbury's fifth runner to finish was freshman Emily Powell who was 16th overall (25:49) while fellow freshman Becca Stinner (26:16) and sophomore Megan Blue (26:26) were 18th and 19th, respectively.
"Both teams ran as a group and that was the game plan going in. That was the key today," said Jones.
After the two races the CAC announced the end of the year cross country awards. Jones was named the CAC Men's Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive season, seventh overall, in his 10 seasons at SU. Jones has twice been named the CAC Women's Coach of the Year.
Mary Washington won four of the six awards as DeVar was named CAC Men's Athlete of the Year, Jon Gates was named CAC Men's Rookie of the Year, Sullivan was named CAC Women's Athlete of the Year and UMW coach Stan Soper took home the CAC Women's Coach of the Year award. Corie Thompson from York was named the CAC Women's Rookie of the Year.
Salisbury has some time to savor this championship sweep as the Sea Gull will next participate in the 2008 NCAA Division III Mideast Regionals on November 15 in Waynesburg, Pa.
2008 CAC Cross Country Championships
Team Results
Men's
1. Salisbury - 22 points
2. Mary Washington - 38
3. York - 75
4. Hood - 130
5. Marymount - 134
6. Wesley - 168
Women's
1. Salisbury - 33 points
2. Mary Washington - 35
3. York - 93
4. Hood - 111
5. Stevenson - 138
6. Marymount - 147
7. Wesley - 183
