Sunday, October 2, 2005

SAINTS FINISH 13TH AND 14TH AT GEORGIA COLLEGIATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Irina Watkins Selected to First Team All-Georgia

Macon, Ga. – Sophomore Josh Knapp led the men to a 13th place finish and senior Irina Watkins led the women to a 14th place finish for North Georgia College & State University in this year's annual Georgia Collegiate Championships hosted by Mercer University.

Knapp ran the best 8k of his career at the five-mile course at the Georgia Children's Home to lead the Saints. He finished in a time of 28:48, over three minutes faster than best time, in 68th place. Following Knapp was junior Bryan Harris in 70th place in a time of 28:56. Sophomore David Beall also knocked a minute off of his best time and finished 85th in 29:34. Junior Matt Bollinger and freshman Josh Kerzie rounded out the men's top five. Bollinger ran a personal best time of 29:56 and Kerzie finished with a time of 30:19.

Kennesaw State University won the team race with 45 points. Troy State's Brandon Hughes won the men's race in a time of 24:52.

For the women, Watkins ran the best time of her career at North Georgia in her first race of the 2005 season. The 2002 Peach Belt Conference champion and 2004 NAIA Region XIII champion finished third overall in a time of 17:59 to lead the women's team. Sophomore Kayce Christianson took 77nd place in a time of 21:14 followed by senior Anna Roller, who ran a season best time of 22:14 for 103rd overall. Freshmen Hannah Dugger and Loren Blake rounded out the top five for the Saints women with times of 22:54 and 23:13 respectively.

KSU took home the team championship with 38 points. KSU's Patrina Hayes won the race in a time of 17:23.

The Saints return to action this Saturday as they participate in the 10th Annual Disney Cross Country Classic at the Disney Wide World of Sports complex. The men's race starts at 7:45 a.m. and women's race begins at 8:55 a.m.

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