UNCP Sends Six To Southeast Regional Championships

WINGATE – The UNCP women's cross country team sent six of its runners to Wingate University on Saturday morning to compete in the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship 6K race. The women as a team placed 13th out of 23 total teams and had five runners individually place in the top 100.

Leading the Lady Braves was freshman Annette Sem who finished 34th overall with a time of 25:34 for the 6K event. She was followed by teammate Bonnie MacDonald who placed second for the Black and Gold and 48th overall. Rounding out UNCP's top three was Catherine Shoemaker who clocked a 26:45 for a 76th place individual finish.

UNCP's women picked up 338 points to place 13th at the event, the highest they had placed at the regional championships since 1996. While the race at Wingate marked the end of a season for the Lady Braves, both Columbus State and Queens advanced to the 2009 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championship race after finishing first (68 points) and second (69 points), respectively.

Lenoir-Rhyne sophomore Kate Griewisch won the the 6K course in 22:35 and will advanced to nationals along with second place Whitney Bishoff from Anderson.

The 2009 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championship takes place on Saturday, November 21, at Evansville, Indiana, on the campus of Southern Indiana University.

UNCP Results
- Annette Sem (34th, 25:34)
- Bonnie MacDonald (48th, 26:02)
- Catherine Shoemaker (76th, 26:45)
- Blair Long (92nd, 27:29)
- Brianne Talob (98th, 27:39)
- Woodi Jones (126th, 28:53)