Thursday, June 9, 2005

SAINTS CROSS COUNTRY ANNOUNCES 2005 RECRUITING CLASS

Dahlonega, Ga. – North Georgia College & State University head cross country coach Chris Busby announced the addition of six new freshmen to the Saints men's and women's cross country team for the 2005 season.

Loren Blake , Hannah Dugger , Juliette Gula , and Christina Scott will be running for the women's team this upcoming fall that finished fourth in the Southern States Athletic Conference this past season.

Blake is a native of Dacula, Ga. and ran cross country and track at Dacula High School. She posted a personal best of 23:28 in the 5k at the Alexander Invitational. On the track, she posted a top time of 13:42 in the two mile at the Region 7 AAAAA meet and a 6:20 mile. Blake also played two years of tennis during her career at DHS.

Dugger is a native of Suwannee, Ga. and ran cross country and track at Collins Hill High School. She has a top time of 21:18 in the 5k at Gainesville College Region Meet and had a personal best time of 5:41 in the mile at Eagle IceBreaker in 2004. In addition, she has a top time of 2:27 in the 800 at Georgia Tech Coaches Invitational. This past season, Dugger was captain of the CHHS cross country team and was a member of the swim team.

Gula is a native of Charlotte, N.C. and ran cross country at Lake Norman High School in Mooresville, N.C. She posted a personal best of 23:12 in the 5k at the Statesville Invitational in 2003 and was a recipient of the North Carolina Scholar Award while at LNHS.

Scott is a native of Lawrenceville, Ga. and ran cross country at Brookwood High School. This past season, she ran a top time of 20:05 in the 5k and has run a 1:44 in the half marathon.

"Each of these young ladies will be critical in our success this next season as we make the move into the Peach Belt Conference and the NCAA," said second year coach Busby. He added, "With our returning talent I think we will be very competitive next season."

Josh Kerzie and Dustin LaBarge will join the men's team that finished second in the SSAC and third in NAIA Region XIII in 2004.

Kerzie is a native of Marietta, Ga. and ran cross country and track at Walton High School. This past year he ran a best time of 16:54 at the Georgia State Meet in the 5k as well as posting personal best times in the 400 (52.21), 800 (2:02), and 1600 (4:44).

LaBarge is a native of Hoschton, Ga. and ran cross country and track at Jackson County High School. He ran a personal best time of 19:17 this past season in the 5k as well as 11:13 in the 3200, 2:14.68 in the 800 at the region meet, and a 5:18 mile. LaBarge received the STAR Student award, which is given for the highest SAT score among honor graduates at JCHS.

"Our team will be much deeper with the addition of Kerzie and LaBarge to the squad, both of these young men are excellent students and runners and will be great contributors this season," said Busby.

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