Jackson, MS-The Belhaven men’s and women’s cross country teams head into the 2009 season with high hopes and momentum thanks to an outstanding 2008 season. The men’s and women’s teams both had a strong finish to the 2008 year with three of the Lady Blazers earning a trip to the NAIA National meet.
Christie Barber, Libby Brown, and Jessica Gunning all qualified for the national meet via their times at the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference meet. Barber finished third overall with a time of 20:33.07 in the 5 k race. Brown checked in with a time of 21:17.74 which was good for 7th place overall. Gunning recorded at 9th place finish with an overall time of 21:39.10.
At the National meet, Senior Christie Barber was Belhaven’s top finisher crossing the line with a total time of 20:08 minutes to finish in the 242nd position. Senior Jessica Gunning had a time of 21:01 to place 291st in the meet. Sophomore Libby Brown checked in with a total time of 21:31 minutes to complete the race in the 327th position.
The Belhaven men will have a tremendous amount of experience as they push forward in 2009. The Blazers will be returning four of their top five runners from a year ago including sophomore Thomas Kazery who led the team last year. Kazery will be joined by senior Douglas Coker and fellow sophomores Peter Davis and Luke Lennon. Belhaven will also welcome freshman runners Andrew Sinclair, Sonny Gunn, and Adam Jones.
“We are expecting great things from our men’s team in 2009 and are excited about the talent that we have,” says Head Coach Christie Barber. “Our goals this season are for us to take home some Gulf Coast Athletic Conference All-Conference awards and compete for a GCAC championship. Ultimately, we hope to make an appearance at the NAIA National meet.”
The Lady Blazers will have some new faces in 2009 with only one runner coming back from last year’s team. Sophomore Jackie Bateman is the only returner and will be looked upon to help lead this year’s group of runners. Bateman will be joined by senior transfer Lea Schumacher and junior Callie Osborn. Hannah Reese and Nikki Stackhouse are the other two newcomers and will be freshman in 2009. Reese hails from nearby Brandon, MS and Stackhouse is from Madison, MS.
“This year’s team will have some new faces this season, but I am excited about the talent we have assembled,” says Coach Barber. “Hannah Reese is a strong competitor and Co-Lin transfer Callie Osborn will bring maturity and experience to the team. We finished second in the GCAC last season and are looking to secure a conference championship and a trip to the NAIA National meet in 2009.”
The Belhaven men and women will both open the season on September 1
st when they compete in the Mississippi College Season Opener in Clinton, MS.