LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The VMI men's and women's cross country teams wrapped up its 2007 season with a good showing at this year's NCAA Regional Championships. The men's team, led by junior Andrew Rademaker, finished 19th overall in the 10k race while the women's team was paced by freshman Hannah Granger and finished in 27th place at the 6k course.
The men's and women's overall team titles were both captured by North Carolina St., while Liberty's Josh McDougal (29:30.70) and UNC's Brianna Felnagle (19:52.25) won their respective events.
The performance by the VMI men's team equaled the program's best finish at the Regional Championships, tying its 19th-place finish back in 2005 in Greenville, N.C.
"I thought both teams did a pretty solid job," said VMI head cross country coach Paul Spangler. "(On the men's side), I was pleased that we were able to beat several schools that had finished higher than us all season...teams like Radford, Davidson and Furman. I think the women also had a very solid performance. They were also able to finish ahead of a few teams in our conference that we couldn't beat this season before today."
According to Coach Spangler, the men's team completed all of its team and personal goals they set prior to today's race. Competing without two of their top runners (Felix Kitur and Jared Klajnbart), the men's team was paced by Rademaker who finished 100th overall at 32:36.55.
Following behind Rademaker was sophomore Matt Sagar (32:46.00-108th), freshman Ermin Mujezinovic (33:17.15-128th) and senior's Ben Switzer (33:23.40-132nd) and Kurt Able (33:26.95-133rd).
The women's team was led by Granger for the sixth straight race as she finished 64th overall with her time of 21:57.75, which was just a second off her personal 6k best set earlier this year at the Paul Short Run. Her 64th-place finish also marks the best finish for a VMI women's cross country member at the Southeast Regional Championship.
Junior Kelsey Stafford was next in line for the Keydets at 23:46.60 (170th), and was followed by sophomore Emily Fritts (23:53.85-176th) and junior Christina Mowatt-Larssen (24:08.15-179th). Senior Ania Najda rounded out the top five for VMI with her time of 24:40.80.
The future of the program looks very bright for VMI, with a majority of this year's team returning for next season. The men's team will lose just two of its top ten performers. Meanwhile, redshirt junior and the team's top runner Donnie Cowart will return for his final year of eligibility. For the women, five of the top six will be back for coach Spangler's team.
"With the people we have returning, it is realistic that we can be a top-15 men's team and top-20 women's team (at next year's Regional Championships)," added Spangler. "This season was also a very good stepping stone into the 2007-08 track & field season."
