October 22, 2010 -- Mount Olive College Invitational

Post date: Nov 4, 2010 5:27:31 AM

On the final weekend before the USA South Conference Championships, the men's "B" team headed south with four of the women's team to race the 5k course at Mount Olive College.

Captains Head South For Short Course Races

Winkler & Rogers Lead CNU at MOC, Rolaf Named 2010 Rookie of the Year

Captains "B" Squad Finishes 4th in Mount Olive

With the USA South Conference Championships a week away most of the Captains' top twelve stayed home while the rest of the men's squad headed south to Mount Olive, NC for a quick 5k race on the MOC campus. The hosts claimed the team victory (35 points), holding off UNC Wilmington's "B" squad (49), Mary Washington (69), and CNU "B" (145).

Junior Matthew Winkler (Palmyra, VA) is expected to race at Conference, but the 800m specialist could not pass up the chance to run one more short-course race to tune up for the Championships. He posted a very respectable time, placing 20th in 16:23 on the twisting two-lap course. Not far behind was another 800m runner -- freshman Shaowei Tu(Mechanicsville, VA) who's 16:47 was more than a minute faster than his best high school time over 5k.

The Captains finished their scoring with a well-bunched trio, starting with senior Will Zak(Mechanicsville, VA). In spite of not feeling well, he virtually matched his best track 5k time with a 17:13 finish in 40th. A few steps later, sophomore Brian Huffman (Charlottesville, VA) finished (17:16), followed by Daniel Austin (Culpeper, VA) (17:20). Huffman has spent most of the season battling illness and Austin has been managing leg issues, so the fact that both finished faster than their lifetime bests was impressive.

Rogers Gains Experience

Still a newcomer to Cross Country racing, senior Christine Rogers (Springfield, VA) tested herself with another aggressive start and again managed the middle section of the race very well. Her 12th place 19:50 showed she is ready to make key contributions in the Captains' efforts during the Championship Season.

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