Aug. 29, 2008

Women's Individual Results
Women's Group Results
Men's Individual Results
Men's Group Results

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Despite the race time temperature of 84 degrees Fahrenheit, the Wake Forest women's cross country team started their season off with an impressive victory at the Wake Forest Relays. The squad earned four of the top five individual finishes and the top two group performances.

The team of redshirt senior Merry Placer and redshirt junior Allie Kieffer led the way for almost three-quarters of the race and finished with a combined time of 35:40. With a second-place team finish and a time of 37:24, freshman Dina Nosenko and sophomore Marley Burns helped propel Wake Forest to its second consecutive first-place finish at the Wake Forest Relays.

Five of the top six individual women's times came from both past and present Demon Deacons. Kieffer's combined time of 17:41 secured the top collegiate finish, while former Deacon and All-America selection Michelle Sikes ran unattached with assistant coach Amber Larsen and reported the top individual time with a 17:32. Other top-ten finishers included Placer, Laura Rapp, Burns, D. Nosenko and Caitlin Crawford.

"I was pleasantly surprised," head coach Annie Bennett said when asked about her thoughts on the women's team performance.

"We had some depth out there. Overall, I'm very pleased with where we're starting but we have some work yet to do."

Greg Billington and Paul Loeser finished sixth on the 14-kilometer course, with Billington additionally earning a sixth-place individual time of 22:53, for the men's cross country team.

"On the men's side, I'm especially pleased with our freshmen Tom Morrison and Paul Loeser. They did some good things out there. (Redshirt sophomore) Nick Lepley ran as well as he ever has out here and showed some maturity and Greg Billington did a good job of competing," Bennett said. "Overall, it was a good showing for the first outing of the year."

The Wake Forest men's cross country team fielded five of the 51 runners and finished with a "No Score" for the event because three groups must finish in order to record an official school result for this particular meet.

The men's and women's cross country teams continue their regular season with a trip to Chapel Hill, N.C., to attend the University of North Carolina Invitational on Sept. 13.

Women - Team Results

1. Wake Forest (10)
2. High Point (23)
3. Elon (36)
4. Wingate (60)
5. Duke (NS)

Men - Team Results

1. Duke (11)
2. High Point (14)
3. Elon (41)
4. Wingate (52)
5. Wake Forest (NS)