Results: Men's Race (PDF) | Women's Race (PDF)

Sea Gulls hold off Eagles to sweep CAC Championships
SALISBURY, Md. – The Salisbury University cross country program repeated as Capital Athletic Conference champions as the men’s and women’s teams held off rival, University of Mary Washington, on the Sea Gulls’ home course at Winter Place Park on Saturday morning.

“I am very proud of the tradition we have built here,” said Salisbury coach Jim Jones, who was named the 2006 CAC Men’s Coach of the Year. “We know we are building something great here.”

The SU men’s team placed four runners in the top 10 and had its fifth runner, Carl Blickle, cross the line in 11th to accumulate 30 team points. UMW’s Justin Kirk, the 2006 CAC Men’s Runner of the Year, won the 8,000-meter course race with a time of 25:32 followed by teammate and 2006 CAC Men’s Rookie of the Year Frank DeVar (25:38) in second. The Eagles had four runners in the top 10 as well but its fifth runner, George Winslow, crossed the line in 14th place overall to earn 35 points.

Salisbury junior Buck Stokes (25:43) and senior Will Murdoch (25:44) crossed the line third and fourth, respectively, just a second off each other’s pace. Junior Eric Graves followed right behind Murdoch in fifth with a time of 25:56 and freshman Dustin Yourstone came up with a huge seventh place finish to help the Gulls win their sixth CAC title since 1997 and their fourth in five years. This is the second time the Gulls have repeated as CAC champions. The last time came in 2003.

“It is great to go out as a team champion,” said Murdoch. “We had a lot of guys who stepped up and won this for us. UMW has a great program. This is a fierce rivalry for us.”

It was another title finish in the women’s race as the Sea Gulls held off the Eagles by nine points. Sophomore Kelly Sullivan, the 2006 CAC Women’s Runner of the Year, won the 6,000-meter race with a time of 21:46. Kelly’s twin sister Glenna finished in second with a time of 21:57. SU had five runners finish in the top places. Sophomore Jenn Bulger (22:32) surprised the field with her fifth place finish while junior Zuzka O’Zwoldike (22:50) came in eighth. Salisbury freshman Emily Hammonds (23:11) was the fifth SU runner to cross the finish line as she finished in 12th place.

The Eagles had four runners in the top seven spots but UMW’s fifth runner, Nina Pfeiffer, crossed the line in 17th place.

“I really wanted us to win,” said Bulger. “Coach Jones wants us to do it again next year and make it four in a row.”

This the third straight year the SU women’s cross country team has won the CAC’s and today’s title is its fourth overall since 1996.

Catholic University of America came in third overall in the women’s race. The Cardinals’ coach Joe Fisher was named the 2006 CAC Women’s Coach of the Year and freshman Remy Ball was honored with the 2006 CAC Women’s Rookie of the Year honor.