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Clayton Sate men’s cross country places sixth in
NCAA South Regional Sat.; women finish eighth 

DECATUR, GA --– November 8, 2003 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s and women’s cross country teams finished sixth and eighth, respectively, Saturday in the 2003 NCAA Division II South Regionals at the Panthersville course on the grounds of Georgia Regional Hospital.  

Entering the race ranked seventh in the NCAA South Regional poll, the Lakers picked up one spot on the field, despite having its top runner, senior Tony Juarez (East Hazel Crest, IL), suffer an injury midway through the race. In fact, the Lakers were only three points from fifth place and 17 points out of fourth.   

Sophomore Njoroge Ngaruiya (Kiambu, Kenya) had the top finish for the Lakers in the 10K event, placing 28^th with a collegiate best time of 33:46. The time was the fifth best in Clayton State history. Suffering a shin injury and in obvious pain for more than half the race, Juarez was still able to gut out the second best finish for the Lakers, placing 29^th with a time of 33:52, which ranked seventh all-time. 

Junior Adil Berkhedle (Scarborough, Ontario) placed 32^nd in the race with a time of 34:00, the ninth fastest all-time, followed by junior Oscar Campos in the 39^th spot with a personal best time of 34:25, the 13^th fastest in Clayton State history. Senior Stephen Hughes (Hampton, GA) rounded out the scoring for Clayton State in 52^nd with a personal best time of 35:03, followed by freshman Tim McCullough (Churchton, MD) in 81^st with a time of 36:40.  

Even with Juarez not up to full speed, the Lakers still were able to post the fastest overall 10K team time in school history. The top five times on the squad averaged 34:13, besting last year’s team average in the South Region of 34:26 by 13 seconds per runner. 

Harding University, out of the Gulf South Conference, won with a meet-low 19 points, followed by Peach Belt Conference rival Kennesaw State University with 47 points. Both Harding and Kennesaw State will advance to the NCAA Championships in Raleigh, N.C. The State University of West Georgia placed third with 120 points, followed by the University of Tampa in fourth with 162 points and the University of West Florida in fifth with 176 points. 

On the women’s side, sophomore Heather Krehbiel (Peachtree City, GA) led the way, placing 21^st with a personal best time of 23:02 in the 6K event, the fourth fastest 6K in school history. Her time also broke the sophomore record set by Joni Guffey in 1999. Junior Kim Daniel (Macon, GA) placed 33^rd with a time of 23:37, the eighth fastest all-time.  

Sophomore Melissa Shaw (Morrow, GA) finished 54^th with a personal best time of 24:20, the 18^th fastest time all-time, followed by Penny Tinker in 59^th with a time of 24:50, the 21^st fastest time in school history.  

Freshman Tanika Smith rounded out the scoring for Clayton State, placing 62^nd with a personal best time of 24:55, the 25^th fastest in school history. Junior Stephanie Gilbert (Jonesboro, GA) finished 79^th with a time of 25:58, followed by junior Brittany Precht (Smyrna, GA) in the 95^th spot with a personal best time of 27:26.  

The Lakers placed eighth for the second straight season in the region meet, but at the same time and a good indication of how the region has gotten stronger over the last couple of years, Saturday’s overall team time was the fastest in school history. The top five Lakers averaged a time of 24:08, besting the 2001 team time at the NCAA Regionals of 24:26 by 16 seconds per runner.

North Florida won with a meet low 76 points, followed in a close second by the University of Tampa with 81 points. The University of Alabama-Huntsville finished third with 93 points, followed by Harding in fourth with 112 points and Kennesaw State rounding out the top five with 117 points. The four teams in the meet will advance to nationals.  

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Clayton State cross country teams set for
2003 NCAA South Regionals on Sat. at Panthersville 

MORROW, GA --- November 6, 2003 --- After impressive Peach Belt Conference finishes two weeks ago, the Clayton College & State University men’s and women’s cross country teams will return this Saturday to the same Georgia State University Panthersville course at Georgia Regional Hospital, this time with their eyes on a bigger prize, the 2003 NCAA South Region Championships.  

The men’s 10K race will start at 9 a.m. at the nearby Decatur, GA, course, followed by the women’s 6K race, starting at 10 a.m. The top two teams on the men’s side and the top four teams on the women’s side will advance to the NCAA Division II National Championships on November 22^nd in Raleigh, N.C. In addition, the top two individuals not on the advancing teams will also go to the national meet.  

Fresh off its highest finish ever, a runner-up in the Peach Belt Conference meet, the Clayton State men’s team is primed to make some noise in the 2003 region event. Although Clayton State enters the meet ranked seventh in the South Region poll, head coach Mike Mead says the squad has a good shot of finishing in the top five and could even place as high as third in the race.  

The Lakers have defeated the University of West Florida, ranked sixth, in a meet earlier this year and have times that compare with several of the teams ranked ahead of them. Clayton State will look to improve on its best finish of seventh in the region meet in 1997.  

Clayton State’s women’s squad is coming off a third place finish in the Peach Belt Conference and is currently ranked sixth in the NCAA South Region poll. The Lakers finished eighth in the region meet last season despite missing two of its top runners.  The top finish for the Laker women was also in 1997, finishing third.  

Saturday’s race for the men will be the final collegiate race for arguably Clayton State’s best ever runner, as senior Tony Juarez will lace up the spikes for the final time in his collegiate cross country career. Juarez is coming off a sixth place finish in the Peach Belt meet two weeks ago.  

Juarez placed 19^th in last year’s region event and in the process set the school record in the 10K with a time of 33:07. A three-time All-Peach Belt Conference performer, he has the two fastest 10K times in school history and six of the school’s fastest 8K times, including the record 8K time of 25:24.  

Njoroge Ngaruiya, a sophomore from Kiambu, Kenya; Adil Berkhedle, a junior from Scarborough Ontario; and Oscar Campos, a junior from Los Angeles, Calif.; will provide support for Juarez. Ngaruiya had a solid sophomore season and is coming off a personal best time 26:06 in the Peach Belt Conference, placing eighth. The effort garnered him All-Peach Belt Conference honors for the first time.  

After battling a couple of early season injuries, Berkhedle has begun to resemble his “form of old” and finished 10^th in the Peach Belt Conference, including being named All-Conference for the third straight season. He placed 25^th in last year’s region meet with the third fastest 10K time in school history of 33:41. Campos, a junior college transfer, will try to put the finishing touches on a fine first season, as he placed 12^th in the Peach Belt meet.  

A former four-year starter on the Laker soccer team, Stephen Hughes, a senior from Hampton, GA, has been a solid No. 5 runner for the Lakers this season and will also be running in his final collegiate event. Hughes along with freshman Tim McCullough, from Churchton, Md., were integral in leading the Lakers to the second place finish in the conference meet.  

On the women’s side, a trio of runners in sophomore Heather Krehbiel, from Peachtree City, GA, junior Kim Daniel, of Macon, GA, and sophomore Melissa Shaw, from Morrow, GA, led the Lakers this season. 

Krehbiel, from Starr’s Mill High School had another stellar season, leading the women's team in four of six meets this season, including a career and team-best of 18:25 for the 5K and two individual wins.  Krehbiel placed 10^th in the Peach Belt meet and was named All-Conference for the second straight year. Last year, she finished 25^th in the 6K region race with a time of 23:15, the fourth fastest in school history.  

Daniel, a 2001 All-Region performer, is coming off her best race of the year, placing sixth in the PBC meet with a personal best time of 18:51 and was named to the all-conference team for the third straight season. Shaw is coming off another fine race in her first collegiate cross country season and was also named All-PBC after placing 11^th with a time of 19:07.  

Senior Penny Tinker, a senior from Mesa, AZ, will be running in her final collegiate race at the regional meet after a fine two-year career at Clayton State. Tinker, who has been the Lakers No. 4 runner this season, finished 20^th in the 2003 PBC meet and had a personal best last month in the Blazer Invitational with a time of 19:13. Last year in the region meet, she posted a time of 24:04, the 10^th fastest in school history.  

Junior Stephanie Gilbert, from Jonesboro, GA, and freshman Tanika Smit, from Benoni, South Africa, both had top-30 finishes in the PBC meet. Smith, who has been battling injuries for the second half of the season and Gilbert both recorded personal bests at the Blazer Invitational with times of 20:04 and 19:52, respectively.  

The top 15 men’s and women’s finishers in Saturday’s race will receive NCAA Division II All-Region honors. Clayton State women have garnered All-Region honors eight times while four men have been named All-Region. 

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Clayton Sate men’s cross country places second in
Peach Belt Championships Sat.; women finish third 

DECATUR, GA --– October 25, 2003 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s cross country team dashed to its highest finish ever in the Peach Belt Conference Championships with a runner-up finish, while the women’s squad darted to its second straight third place in the meet held Saturday at the Panthersville course on the grounds of Georgia Regional Hospital.  

Senior Tony Juarez (East Hazel Crest, IL) led the Lakers to the team’s highest PBC finish in the program’s nine-year history, placing sixth individually in the race with a time of 25:43. The Lakers finished with 56 points behind winner Kennesaw State University with 20 points and in front of the University of North Florida with 65 points. The University of South Carolina Spartanburg and Francis Marion University rounded out the top five.  

Juarez’s sixth place finish was the school’s second highest men’s individual finish in the Peach Belt Conference meet, was the school’s fourth fastest 8K time and garnered him All-Peach Belt honors for the third straight season.  

 Along with Juarez receiving all-conference honors, sophomore Njoroge Ngaruiya (Kiambu, Kenya) and junior Adil Berkhedle (Scarborough, Ontario) were also named to the All-PBC team after finishing eighth and 10^th in the meet, respectively. Ngariuya had a personal best time of 26:09 and his time was the seventh fastest in school history, while Berkhedle ran a time 26:27, ranking 17^th in the Clayton State record book and garnering him All-PBC honors for the third straight season. 

On the women’s side, Clayton State finished third with 73 points behind North Florida with 24 points and Kennesaw State with 45 points. Lander University and Georgia College & State University rounded out the top five. Junior Kim Daniel led the Lakers with a personal best time of 18:51, the seventh fastest 5K time in Clayton State history.  

Behind Daniel, who received All-PBC honors for the third straight season, sophomore Heather Krehbiel (Peachtree City, GA) placed 10^th with a time of 19:09, followed by sophomore Melissa Shaw (Morrow, GA) finishing 11^th with a time of 19:17. Both Krehbiel and Shaw were named to the All-PBC team, the honor for Krehbiel was her second straight.  

Junior Oscar Campos (Los Angeles, CA) and senior Stephen Hughes (Hampton, GA) rounded out the scoring for the Clayton State men with 12^th and 20^th places, respectively. Campos came one spot away from receiving All-PBC honors and finished with a time of 26:35, while Hughes had time of 27:44.  Freshman Tim McCullough (Churchton, MD) placed 24^th with a time of 28:27. 

On the women’s side, senior Penny Tinker (Mesa, AZ) placed 20^th with a time of 19:41, followed by freshman Tanika Smith (Benoni, South Africa) rounding out the scoring for Clayton State with a time of 20:22 in 26^th place.  

Junior Stephanie Gilbert (Jonesboro, GA) finished in the 27^th spot with a time of 20:29, followed by junior Brittany Precht (Smyrna, GA) placing 42^nd with a time of 22:00.  

The second place finish for the men’s squad comes on the heels of a third place finish in 2002 PBC meet, while women’s squad has placed third in the conference meet for the last two seasons.  

Up next, the Lakers will compete in the NCAA South Regional at the same Panthersville course in Decatur, GA on November 8^th. The men will run a 10K distance at 9 a.m., followed by a 6K distance for the women, starting at 10 a.m. The top two teams and top individuals from regional meet will advance to the NCAA Championships on November 22 in Raleigh, NC. 

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Clayton State Runners Peak for Peach Belt Meet 

MORROW, October 22, 2003 -- The Clayton College & State University cross country squads will be making their ninth appearance in the Peach Belt Conference Championships this Saturday and both teams will be in serious contention for the conference title.  The title meet will be run at the nearby Georgia State University Panthersville course at Georgia Regional Hospital with Kennesaw State University serving as host school. The women’s 5K race will begin at 9 a.m., followed with the men’s 8K race at 10 a.m. 

The University of North Florida is the pre-meet favorite for the women’s title while Kennesaw State is favored in the men’s event.  The Lakers have senior Tony Juarez of East Hazel Crest, Ill. who has a serious shot at becoming Clayton State’s first individual Peach Belt champ as he enters Saturday’s meet with the fastest time run by a PBC male runner this season.  Both Lakers squads have legitimate chances at second place team finishes which combined would be the best finish to date in the PBC championship meet for CCSU.  Last year, both teams finished third. 

The lady Lakers have had more success than their male counterparts the past two seasons and particularly when the meet has been run on the Panthersville course.  Two previous times -- 1996 & 2001 – the Clayton State women have placed second as a team at Panthersville. 

“We’re hoping that third time’s the charm,” said head coach Mike Mead.  “We’ve run very well the past three meets and it appears we’re peaking at the right time.  Only time will tell come Saturday.  We’re a little banged up on both teams, but who isn’t at this time of the season.  If all of our runners follow our game plan, we should make it an interesting finish.” 

The lady Lakers have had a strong one-two combination in Heather Krehbiel and Kim Daniel.  Krehbiel, a sophomore from Peachtree City (Starr's Mill H.S.), has had another stellar season.  She has led the women's team in four of five meets this season that includes a career and team-best 18:25.13 for 5K and two individual wins.  Daniel, a junior from Macon, ran 18:53.80 to earn her second consecutive “All-State” honor at the Georgia Collegiate Championships earlier this month on the Panthersville course. 

Perhaps the surprise runner of the season for the lady Lakers has been sophomore Melissa Shaw of Morrow.  In her first collegiate season of cross country, Shaw has a best time of 19:06.33 and could figure in for All-PBC honors on Saturday. Shaw is backed by senior Penny Tinker, a junior from Mesa, Ariz. who ran 19:13.40 last weekend; junior Stephanie Gilbert from Jonesboro who broke 20:00 for the first time in her career last Saturday with a 19:52.03 clocking and freshman Tanika Smit from Benoni, South Africa who ran a career-best 20:04.30 last week.  Rounding out Clayton State’s Top 7 for Saturday is junior Brittany Precht from Smyrna. 

The men's team, led by Juarez, has a shot at making their highest finish in the Peach Belt on Saturday.  Juarez will receive support from Oscar Campos, a junior from Los Angeles, Calif.; Adil Berkhedle, a junior from Scarborough, Ontario; and Njoroge Ngaruiya, a sophomore from Kiambu, Kenya.  Campos has been running second to Juarez the past two meets, whereas Ngaruiya was No. 2 for the first three meets of the season.  Berkhedle should not be taken lightly since he’s always run well in his two previous PBC meets.  Both he and Juarez will be seeking their third consecutive All-PBC honors.  At last season’s PBC meet, Berkhedle ran a 25:38.77 that was than a team record. 

The Lakers’ No. 5 spot will be key on Saturday and first-year runner Stephen Hughes, a senior from Hampton and a former four-year starter on the Lakers soccer team, has filled in nicely.  He along with Tim McCullough, a freshman from Churchton, Md., will determine how Clayton State fares among the Top 3 teams. 

Saturday's conference meet will award the Top 15 women's finishers and the Top 11 men's finishers with All-PBC honors.  A total of 11 Clayton State women have garnered All-PBC honors 15 times while six men have garnered all-conference honors nine times in previous Peach Belt meets.

Heather Krehbiel Sets 5K Team Record

Clayton State Runners Sweep Blazer Invite; Peach Belt Championships up next

VALDOSTA, Ga. – October 18, 2003 -- They’re called the Valdosta State University Blazers, but it was the Clayton State cross country teams who did the blazing here Saturday morning as both teams swept the Blazer Invitational at Freedom Park.  Sophomore Heather Krehbiel led the women in a record-setting day while senior Tony Juarez led a mild upset of the University of West Florida in the men’s division. 

Krehbiel (Peachtree City, Ga.) won here for the second straight year in record-setting style by improving Clayton State’s 5K women’s team record formerly held by Joni Guffey.  Krehbiel blazed her way to an 18:25.13 time on the flat, fast course which bettered her own course record of 19:11 set last season.  The lady Lakers took four of the top five places to score a low 23 points to best runner-up West Florida’s 44 points among a field of five teams. 

The somewhat banged up Lakers managed to turn in an all-time team effort as their Top 5 averaged 19:08 per woman.  Krehbiel got support from sophomore Melissa Shaw  (Morrow, Ga.) who finished second in 19:06.34.  Junior Kim Daniel (Macon, Ga.) placed a close third in 19:07.56 while senior Penny Tinker (Mesa, Ariz.) was fifth in 19:13.41 and junior Stephanie Gilbert (Jonesboro, Ga.) was 12^th in 19:52.02. 

“We wore our racing shoes today,” said head coach Mike Mead.  “I told our ladies to run the first two miles as though it was a track meet.  Heather and Kim blistered the first mile under 5:40.  I was proud of our team effort and seven of our eight women set personal bests.  I’ve been impressed with everyone’s improvement, particularly Heather and Melissa’s.  Penny and Stephanie had big breakthrough races.  Kim and Tanika (Smit) both had gutsy efforts as they continue to run with nagging injuries.” 

Smit (Benoni, South Africa), the team’s lone freshman, placed 15^th in a personal-best 20:04.36.  Rounding out the scoring for the Lady Lakers was junior Brittany Precht (Smyrna, Ga.) in 28^th with a time of 21:14.78 and junior Beatrice Wade (Fairburn, Ga.) who finished 37^th in 22:49.38. 

Juarez (East Hazel Crest, Ill.) won his second meet of the cross country season as he led the Lakers to a one-point win over West Florida.  Clayton State, currently ranked No. 9 in the NCAA Division II’s South Region, totaled 32 points to edge West Florida who is ranked No. 8 in the region. Third place went to the hosts who scored 65 points in the five-team field. 

Juarez finished in 25:29.24, the second-fastest all-time Lakers’ 8K time.  Teammates Oscar Campos, Adil Berkhedle and Njoroge Ngaruiya went 6-7-8 while Stephen Hughes finished 13^th.  Campos (Los Angeles, Calif.) ran a personal best of 26:12.09 while Berkhedle (Scarborough, Ontario, Canada) ran 26:16.76, Ngaruiya (Kiambu, Kenya) clocked in at 26:19.97 and Hughes finished in a personal best of 27:21.97.  Also running for the Lakers was Tim McCullough (Churchton, Md.) placed 21^st in 28:06.63. 

“It was a see-saw battle through the race, but we finally managed to pullout a close one for a change,” said Mead.  “We’ve usually been on the short end, but this time we prevailed.  This was a great meet for us to get tuned up for the Peach Belt Conference Championships.  Tony was hoping to run sub-25 minutes today, but he’ll have a better opportunity next week.  Oscar, Adil and Joe (Ngaruiya) ran well and should flirt for sub-26 minutes at conference.  Of course, we cannot forget that it’s placing that counts the most.” 

Both Clayton State squads will be fine-tuning for their conference championships next Saturday.  The meet returns to the Panthersville course as Kennesaw State University hosts this year’s championship.  Just like in previous years, Kennesaw State will be the pre-meet favorites in both races.  The Lady Lakers have a little favorable history with the Panthersville course at Georgia Regional Hospital and the Peach Belt title meet.  The two previous times the meet has been run there, the Lady Lakers have come away with second place finishes, the last coming in 2001 when Clayton State hosted the meet.

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Juarez and Krehbiel lead Laker cross country teams to fifth and sixth place finishes at Furman Invitational  

Greenville, SC – October 11, 2003 --- Clayton College & State University senior Tony Juarez and sophomore Heather Krebiel led the way for the Laker cross country teams, leading their respective men’s and women’s teams Saturday to fifth and sixth place finishes at the Furman Invitational in Greenville, SC.  

Juarez (East Hazel Crest, IL) finished sixth in the 8K race with a time 26:16.46, the sixth fastest in Clayton State history, while Krebiel placed 15^th in the 5K event with a time of 19:36.66.  

As a team, the Laker men had 112 points and came in behind four NCAA Division I schools in the 16-team field. Furman won the event with a meet low 58 points. On the women’s side, Clayton State finished in sixth place with 162 points, trailing five Division I programs. Charlotte won the women’s meet with a meet low 38 points.  

Behind Juarez, junior Oscar Campos (Los Angeles, CA) placed 22^nd in the event with a time of 27:13.35, followed by sophomore Njoroge Ngaruiya (Kiambu, Kenya) in 23^rd place with a time of 27:16.97. Sophomore Adil Berkhedle (Scarborough, Ontario) placed 36^th with a time of 27:39.01, followed by senior Stephen Hughes rounding out the scoring in 55^th with a time of 28:20.28.  

Freshman Tim McCullough (Churchton, MD) placed 62^nd with a time of 28:31.59, followed by freshman Eric Simmons (Carrollton, GA) placing 112^th with a time of 32:22.56.  

The Lakers defeated several Division I teams in the event, including UNC Asheville, The Citadel, Charleston, Elon and Wofford. Francis Marion placed 12^th and was the only Peach Belt Conference school in the event.  

Behind Krehbiel, junior Kim Daniel (Macon, GA) placed 28^th with a time of 20:19.63, followed by sophomore Melissa Shaw (Morrow, GA) in 39^th with a time of 20:36.21. Freshman Tanika Smit (Benoni, South Africa) finished 45th with a personal best time of 20:49.94, followed by senior Penny Tinker (Mesa, AZ), rounding out the scoring for Clayton State in 49th with a time of 21.01.66. 

Junior Stephanie Gilbert (Jonesboro, GA) placed 71^st with a personal best time of 21:57.88, followed by junior Brittany Precht (Smyrna, GA) finishing 93rd at 22:55.04.  

The Clayton State women defeated several Division I teams in the 15-team field, including East Tennessee State, Elon, The Citadel and Wofford.    

The Laker cross country teams will return to action on Saturday, October 18th, running in the Blazer Invitational in Valdosta, GA. 

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Juarez wins Georgia Collegiate Championships; women’s cross country squad places 3^rd, men finish 4^th   

DECATUR, GA – October 4, 2003 --- Clayton College & State University senior Tony Juarez ran in his final Georgia Collegiate Championships Saturday and became the school’s first collegiate division state champion, posting a new school record time.  

Juarez (East Hazel Crest, IL) blazed through the 8K Panthersville course in a time of 25:24.96, besting junior Adil Berkhedle’s 8K record by almost 14 seconds set last season in the Peach Belt Conference Championships. Juarez, a three-time All-State performer, lowered his personal best time by almost 36 seconds, set last year at the conference meet.  

“Tony (Juarez) ran a great race and is well on the way to having wonderful senior season,” said head coach Mike Mead. “He shattered our school record today and became our first runner to win the college division of the Georgia Collegiate Championships.” 

Sophomore Njoroge Ngaruiya (Kiambu, Kenya) joined Juarez in receiving All-State honors in the event, placing 11^th with a personal best time 26:18.25. His time was the fifth fastest in Clayton State history and garnered him All-State honors for the second straight season.  

On the women’s side, the Clayton State duo of junior Kim Daniel (Macon, GA) and sophomore Heather Krehbiel (Peachtree City, GA) received All-State honors. Daniel, a two-time All-State runner, placed fourth in the collegiate division, running a personal best time of 18:53.80, more than 21 seconds faster than her best set last year at the Georgia Collegiate meet. Her time was the sixth fastest in school history.  

Krehbiel named to the All-State team for the second straight season, placed seventh in the meet with a time of 19:02.02, only two seconds off her personal best set last year at the Peach Belt Conference Championships. Her time was the fastest for a Clayton State sophomore runner and the 10^th fastest all-time.  

“Kim (Daniel) has been battling an ankle injury early this season and ran a gutsy race,” said Mead. “She ran a personal best and both her and Heather (Krehbiel) have a legitimate shot at challenging Joni Guffey’s all-time record by season’s end.” 

As a team, the Clayton State women placed third in the 14-team event with the fastest combined team time in school history. The Lakers finished with 75 points behind winner Emory University and PBC rival Kennesaw State.  

Sophomore Melissa Shaw (Morrow, GA), in only her second cross country meet, came only three spots from receiving All-State honors, placing 17^th with a personal best time of 19:52.58. Freshman Tanika Smit (Benoni, South Africa) finished 25^th with a personal best time of 20:09.10, followed by senior Penny Tinker (Mesa, AZ), rounding out the scoring for Clayton State in 26^th with a time of 20.13.21. 

Junior Stephanie Gilbert (Jonesboro, GA) placed 30^th with a personal best time of 20:29.53, followed by junior Brittany Precht (Smyrna, GA) finishing 46^th with a personal best time of 21:43.09. Junior Beatrice Wade (Fairburn, GA) finished 80^th with a personal best time of 24:01.31.  

The Clayton State men finished fourth out of 14 teams in the race with the second fastest combined team time in school history. The Lakers finished with 83 points behind Kennesaw State, Emory and Berry College. Berkhedle (Scarborough, Ontario), still recovering from an early season injury, placed 19^th in the meet with a time of 26:50.05, followed by junior Oscar Campos (Los Angeles, CA) in 22^nd place with a personal best time of 27:08.92.  

Senior Stephen Hughes (Hampton, GA) rounded out the scoring for Clayton State, placing 31^st with a personal best time of 27:38.14, followed by freshman Tim McCullough (Churchton, MD) in 41^st with a personal best time of 28:03.96. Freshman Eric Simmons (Carrollton, GA) finished 85^th with a personal best time of 31:00.69.  

The Clayton State teams will return to action on Saturday, October 11^th, running in the Furman Invitational in Greenville, S.C.   

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Clayton State Runners Resume Schedule Saturday

 MORROW – October 1, 2003 -- The season resumes this Saturday for the Clayton College & State University cross country teams following a weekend off from competition.  Both teams will compete for state bragging rights on Saturday during the 38^th running of the Georgia Collegiate Championships at nearby Panthersville.  Saturday’s meet is hosted by Georgia State University.  The men’s 8K race will start at 9 a.m., followed with the women’s 5K race at 10 a.m. 

The Lakers last competed on Sept. 19 at the Crimson Classic, hosted by the University of Alabama.  Both teams held their own in the mostly Division I field with the men finishing 6^th out of 16 teams while the women finished tied for 7^th with Ole Miss out of 16 teams. 

“The week off has allowed some of our battered folks to heal up while it has given us another week to work on our endurance strength,” said head coach Mike Mead.  “We’ve only run two meets so far this season which is unusual for us, but we’ll make up by racing every weekend in October, culminating with the conference championship on October 25.” 

Saturday’s Georgia Collegiate Championships will feature most of the college cross country programs in the state.  The Top 14 individuals among non-Division I schools will earn “All-State” honors.  The Lakers had five earn that distinction last season and all of them return to lead their respective teams.  The individuals vying again for “All-State” recognition are senior Penny Tinker (Mesa, Ariz.), junior Kim Daniel (Macon, Ga.), sophomore Heather Krehbiel (Peachtree City, Ga.), senior Tony Juarez (East Hazel Crest, Ill.) and sophomore Njoroge Ngaruiya (Kiambu, Kenya).  Juarez will be seeking his third consecutive honor. 

Both team had their best finishes at the Collegiates in 2002.  The lady Lakers finished third while the Lakers finished fourth.  Both teams hope to improve on their team finishes this Saturday.  “Kennesaw State, Emory and Berry will be the main contenders in both team races,” said Mead.  “With cool, dry conditions forecasted for Saturday, several of our runners should be ready to run some season and personal bests.  I also expect the competition to be tougher than last year, so this should guarantee some fast times.” 

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Clayton State cross country teams 
fare well at Crimson Classic Friday

 TUSCALOOSA, AL – September 19, 2003 --- The Clayton College & State University cross country teams ran Friday in the 16^th annual Crimson Classic Invitational and blazed past a number of NCAA Division I schools in the event hosted by the University of Alabama at the Harry Pritchard Golf Course in Tuscaloosa, AL.

 The Clayton State men’s squad finished in sixth place with 164 points in field of 16 teams, which included 12 Division I teams. The Clayton State women’s squad tied for seventh with Ole Miss at 214 points in the field of 15 teams, which also featured 12 Division I schools. Alabama won the men’s meet, while Tennessee won the women’s event.

 For Clayton State, senior Tony Juarez (East Hazel Crest, IL) led the Lakers, placing 10^th in the 8K race with the third fastest time in Clayton State history of 26:01.38. Sophomore Njoroge Ngaruiya (Kiambu, Kenya) also had a solid performance with a personal best and the 10^th fastest time in Laker history of 26:52.16, placing 26^th.

 On the women’s side, the one-two punch of sophomore Heather Krehbiel (Peachtree City, GA) and junior Kim Daniel (Macon, GA) once again led the Lakers, placing 26^th and 26^th, respectively. Krehbiel finished with a time of 19:36.23, while Daniel had a time of 19:42.52 in the 5K race.

 “I’m happy with the way we are coming around at this point in the season,” said head coach Mike Mead. “We are still a little banged up, but we also have several men and women way ahead of last year’s pace. There is still a lot of work in front us, and hopefully we can keep improving each week.”

Behind Ngaruiya for the men, junior Oscar Campos (Los Angeles, CA) placed 42^nd in the race with a time of 27:50.03, followed by senior Stephen Hughes (Hampton, GA) 55^th with a time of 28:38.49. Freshman Tim McCullough (Churchton, MD) rounded out the scoring for Clayton State, placing 57^th with a time of 28:42.50.

 Junior Adil Berkhedle, who is Clayton State’s record holder in the 8K, participated in his first race of the season after a nagging injury and placed 75^th with a time of 29:38.19, followed by freshman Eric Simmons (Carrollton, GA) 122^nd with a time of 35:04.64.  

The Clayton State men defeated a number of Division I schools in the meet, including Birmingham Southern, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State, Ole Miss, Alabama State, Jacksonville State and Alabama A&M.  

Behind Daniel on the women’s side, freshman Tanika Smit (Benoni, South Africa) placed 51^st with a time of 20:31, followed by senior Penny Tinker (Mesa, AZ) placing 67^th with a time of 21:16.04.  Junior Stephanie Gilbert (Jonesboro, GA) rounded out the scoring for Clayton State, finishing 73^rd with a time of 21:37.84. Junior Brittany Precht (Smyrna, GA) finished 97^th with a time of 23:02. 03, followed by sophomore Beatrice Wade (Fairburn, GA) 119^th with a time of 25:52.01.

 The Clayton State women also defeated a number of Division I schools in the meet, including Birmingham Southern, Arkansas State, Alabama State, Jacksonville State and Alabama A&M.  

The Clayton State teams will take off next week before running in the Georgia Collegiate Championships on Saturday, October 4, at the Panthersville course in Decatur, GA.

Krebiel wins women’s 5K with course record

Clayton State cross country teams
sweep Mercer Invitational Saturday

 BYRON, GA  – September 13, 2003 --- The Clayton College & State University cross country teams opened their ninth seasons in impressive fashion Saturday, sweeping the Mercer Invitational with a combined seven runners finishing in the top-10 in their respective races at Vinson Valley Park near Byron, GA.

 Sophomore Heather Krehbiel (Peachtree City, GA) and senior Tony Juarez (East Hazel Crest, IL) led the women’s and men’s squads, as Krebiel won the women’s 5K with a course record of 19:27 and Juarez placed second in the men’s 5K with a time of 15:42.

 “I’m extremely pleased with our results, considering we entered both races a little banged up” said head coach Mike Mead. “It was a pretty tough course with the humidity and a challenging hill, but everyone was still right on their goal times. We have a lot of work in front us, but hopefully we can get some people healthy and keep improving each week.”

 Clayton State’s women brought home the school’s 11^th race title, finishing ahead of Peach Belt Conference opponent Georgia College & State University. The Lakers, ranked ninth in the NCAA South Region, also defeated Division II opponent Valdosta State University, who entered the meet ranked eighth in the region.

 The Laker women dominated the meet with four runners among the top six finishers. The one-two punch of Krebiel and junior Kim Daniel (Macon, GA) picked up where they left off last year, finishing first and second in the race. Krebiel’s win was her third career meet victory, while Daniel finished a close second at 19:35.

 Behind Daniel, freshman Tanika Smit (Benoni, South Africa) had a fine Laker debut, placing fifth with a time of 20:22. Senior Penny Tinker (Mesa, AZ) finished sixth with a time of 20:31, followed by sophomore transfer Melissa Shaw (Morrow, GA), rounding out the scoring in 12^th with a time of 21:02.

 Junior Stephanie Gilbert (Jonesboro, GA) finished 14^th with a time of 21:18, followed by junior Brittany Precht (Smyrna, GA) finishing 28^th with a time of 22:45. Sophomore Beatrice Wade (Fairburn, GA) and junior Janita Ekperi (Riverdale, GA) placed 54^th and 64^th with times of 25:06 and 27:51, respectively.

 Clayton State’s meet victory for the men was the program’s 11^th win in nine years and was impressive since the Lakers were without the services of All-Peach Belt Conference and 8K school record holder Adil Berkhedle (Scarborough, Ontario), who was held out of the season-opener due to a nagging injury.

 Clayton State still had a trio of runners finish in the top five, led by Juarez in second. Sophomore Njoroge Ngaruiya (Kiambu, Kenya) placed third with a time of 15:56, followed by junior Oscar Campos (Los Angeles, CA) making his Clayton State debut with a solid fifth place finish at 16:04.

 Freshman Tim McCullough (Churchton, MD) and senior Stephen Hughes (Hampton, GA) finished 15^th and 16^th, respectively, with times of 16:57 and 17:05 in their first collegiate races. Freshman Eric Simmons (Carrollton, GA) placed 28^th with a time of 18:13.

 Up next, the Clayton State teams will travel to Tuscaloosa, AL for the Crimson Classic, hosted by the University of Alabama. The meet scheduled for Friday, September 19, will begin with the women’s race at 5 p.m. CDT, followed by the men’s race.

  - ccsu -

Clayton State Banged Up
Entering Cross Country Season

 MORROW, GA  – September 10, 2003 -- The Clayton College & State University cross country teams begin their ninth season this Saturday a little banged up.  But if both teams can overcome these early season setbacks, head coach Mike Mead looks for his squads to pick up where they left off last season.  Both teams will be running Saturday morning at the Mercer Invitational at Vinson Valley Park near Byron.  The women’s 5K is scheduled for a 9 a.m. start, followed by the men’s 8K race at 10 a.m. 

The men and women Lakers are coming off their best seasons in 2002.  Both teams finished third in the Peach Belt Conference – their best combined finishes since 1997 -- while the women placed 8^th and the men 10^th at the NCAA Division II South Region Championships.  Both squads ran team-bests at the conference meet and each came away with two all-conference runners. 

The Lakers, both ranked ninth in the preseason South Region polls, will begin 2003 with key runners recovering from minor injuries.  “We’re just a little banged up at the moment,” said Mead.  “Our men’s squad is in the worst shape since our top two guys (Tony Juarez & Adil Berkhedle) have been out for the past week.  We’re only carrying seven guys this season, so we’re particularly thin.  The ladies are not quite so bad, but we’ve had some folks nicked up during the past two weeks.  Luckily we’re much deeper and are carrying nine women this fall.” 

The women's squad potentially can improve on last season’s successes, returning four of its Top Five runners.  Leading the pack will be last season’s one-two punch of sophomore Heather Krehbiel (Peachtree City, Ga.) and junior Kim Daniel (Macon, Ga.) who both earned All-PBC honors.  Krehbiel established the team freshman 5K mark of 19:00 as the squad’s MVP last season and is expected to begin the season at No. 1 once again.  Daniel, who ran a collegiate-best 19:14 last fall, will be setting her sights on her third straight All-PBC award as she battles back from injury that plagued her last fall. 

Also back is Penny Tinker (Mesa, Ariz.), the lone senior, who ran a career-best 19:41 last season and junior Stephanie Gilbert (Jonesboro, Ga.) who ran a season-best 21:10 at conference.  “We have a great nucleus in Heather, Kim, Penny and Stephanie returning,” said Mead.  “If we can stay healthy and injury-free, this foursome will run even better this fall.” 

The lady Lakers add five newcomers to the squad, led by freshman Tanika Smit from Benoni, South Africa.  Smit was Benoni High’s top runner last year and will step in to fill the vacated spot left by La’Keshia Hayes who completed her four years in 2002 that included twice making the All-PBC team.  Another addition is sophomore Melissa Shaw of Morrow.  The Austin Peay State University transfer is battling back from nagging injuries the past two years and could be a factor later on this season for the Lakers. 

Another newcomer is junior Brittany Precht of Smyrna, Ga.  Formerly from Texas, Precht is making her debut in collegiate cross country and will via for one of the Top 7 spots.  Also joining the team is sophomore Beatrice Wade from Fairburn.  Wade is a transfer from Spelman College and is using cross country to prepare her for track, just like the fifth newcomer, junior Janita Ekperi from Riverdale. 

“We have a solid group of newcomers, led by Tanika Smit,” said Mead.  “The ladies have worked hard since the start of fall classes and I expect to see solid progress between now and November.” 

The men's team will also be improved with the return of three of its Top 5 runners from 2002.  Juarez (East Hazel Crest, Ill.) will be seeking his third straight All-PBC honor and team MVP award this fall while Berkhedle (Scarborough, Ontario, Canada), the team’s 8K record holder goes for his third straight PBC award.  Also returning is much-improved sophomore Njoroge Ngaruiya (Kiambu, Kenya) who earned All-State honors in 2002. 

"We return a solid core in Tony, Adil and Njoroge,” said Mead.  “This trio, along with our newcomers should make for a better squad than last year.  But that’s provided we can stay healthy.” 

The Lakers bring in a junior, a senior and two freshmen to make up the seven-man squad for 2003.  Leading the list of newcomers is junior Oscar Campos (Los Angeles, Calif.), a transfer from East Los Angeles College.  Campos was the No. 4 runner last season on an East Los Angeles team that won California’s state junior college cross country team title. 

New to cross country, but not to Clayton State is senior Stephen Hughes of Hampton.  Hughes completed his soccer eligibility with the Lakers last fall and is running cross country for the first time.  The two freshmen are Tim McCullough from Churchton, Md. and Eric Simmons from Carrollton.  McCullough ran for Southern High School while Simmons was runner-up in the 800m at this spring’s Class AAA state finals for Carrollton High School. 

                “We have a great bunch of guys,” said Mead.  “We’re just a little thin as far as depth goes, so we’re going to have to watch each other more closely.  Oscar is going to be a fine addition while Stephen and Tim will be battling for our No. 5 spot.  Eric is coming off a long summer track season in which he ran 1:55.5, but needs to build up his endurance.  I’m optimistic about the season, but if we have one major injury we will not be able to build on last season’s success.  Several of our folks on both teams are capable of some great things this season and I’m not ruling out at least someone making it to nationals.  Only hard work and time will tell.”