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Grizzlies Sweep National Crowns
Grizzlies sweep National Crowns
Braun, Wood lead ASC to eighth overall dual national victory
by Derek Yorek and Chris Day, Adams State Sports Information
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa.-- Nov. 22, 2008 -- Adams State College's Aaron Braun (Fort Collins, Colo.) finished second at the NCAA Division II Men's Cross Country Championships for the second straight year while Heather Wood (Los Alamos, N.M.) finished fourth overall and third amongst team scorers in the women's race as the Grizzlies swept the national team titles, Saturday at Cooper's Lake Campground.
The official point standings had the Grizzly men winning over arch-rival Western State by 21 points (67-88) with Chico State (Calif.), led by individual champion Scott Bauhs, finishing third with 120 points. The 2-time defending champion Abilene Christian (Texas) Wildcats finished fourth with 128 points.
After Braun finished in a time of 30:36 on the 10-kilometer course, junior Brian Medigovich (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) placed sixth in 31:24 for ASC, which has now won six NCAA Division II National Championships and an all-collegiate record 18 overall.
Rounding out the scorers for ASC were juniors Ryan McNiff (Los Alamos, N.M.), 16th overall and 14th amongst team scorers in 31:42, Luke Cragg (Leeds, England), 24th (21 points) in 31:57, and Florian Theophile (Selommes, France), 31st (25 points) in 32:03. The top four Grizzlies received All-America honors, that go to the top 30 finishers and top 30 U.S. Citizens.
Freshman Drew Graham (Newcastle, England) and senior Babey Wagnew (San Diego, Calif.) finished with times of 32:18 and 32:22 to place 43rd and 44th overall, respectively.
The Grizzly women, who have now won six straight and 14 overall NCAA Division II National Championships, finished with 79 points, placing ahead of Grand Valley State with 102 points and Western State, which took third, finishing with 183. ASC's women have now won 17 all-time national championships, including three at the NAIA level, also an all-collegiate record.
Following Woods' finish in a time of 21:37 on the 6K course, was junior Lavenna Mullenbach (Georgetown, Texas) in 22:01 placing 14th overall and 11th amongst team scorers. Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year J.J. Lende (Haines, Alaska) finished 27th overall (19 team points) with a time of 22:28 while junior Janette Cary (McCarroll) (La Jara, Colo.) took 30th overall and 22nd amongst team scorers with a time of 22:32. Sofia Monroe (Pueblo, Colo.) finished in 22:33 while rounding out the Grizzly win with her 32nd place (24 points) finish. All five of ASC's scorers will bring home All-America hardware.
Junior Vanessa Roy (Pont Sainte Maxence, France) ran a time of 23:01 while sophomore Ashley Quintana (Pecos, N.M.) was clocked in 23:36 to finish 49th and 68th, respectively.
ASC has now won six dual NCAA Division II titles and eight overall, the last of which came in 2003 when the Grizzlies posted 13 All-America performances in Cary, N.C. The 2003 team was also the last time the Grizzly men won the National Title.
