SHAW MEN FINISH 2ND, WOMEN FINISH 3RD
IN CIAA CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONShIP
October 18, 2007 – Cary, NC – Around eleven o’clock in the mid-day, while many individuals pulled out of the parking lots of their chosen professions to pick-up their pre-ordered lunch, the Men & Women of Shaw University’s Cross Country Teams pulled out onto rugged terrain to start their final footrace of the 2007 season at S.A.S Park. After conference officials calculated all point totals, the Shaw University Men finished as CIAA Championship Runner-ups and the Shaw University Women stepped away with third place.
The Lady Bears watered a two year drought of finishing fourth place in 2005 & 2006 by totaling 72 points this year, which awarded them an improved position of third place. As for the men, they outpaced Saint Augustine’s College, the 2005 & 2006 CIAA Champions, by one point for a total of 71 points. They return to the spotlight as CIAA Championship Runner-ups; a feat that had not been accomplished since 2005. When asked about the team’s performance, Head Coach William Montague ecstatically stated, “I’m extremely proud of the Women’s and Men’s teams….” “From the first day of practice on August 18, 2007 a number changes were made. As our practice venues changed, the athletes experienced harder workouts and even the coaching staff became committed to worker a little harder as one thing was in mind - getting back on the podium.” The seventeenth year veteran coach attributed the team’s immense improvement and success to the sole fact of their fair but progressive performances in the past two years.
Shaw Lady Bears were lead by All-CIAA freshman sensation Ashley Ligon (Philadelphia, PA / Mathematics). Overall, Ligon finished in 8th place with a time of 22.13.5. The Lady Bears had three more individuals that finished in the Top 15. Junior Khamiya Smith (Sanford, NC / Psychology) placed 13th place with a time of 22.40.1, sophomore Ashley Bledsoe (Columbia, MD / Biology) placed 14th with a time of 22.50.1, and freshman Shareka Mitchell (Burlington, NC / Athletic Training) placed 15th place with a time of 22.52.7. The Shaw Bears’ All-CIAA performers were freshman idol Jared Arnold (Philadelphia, PA / Health & Physical Education) and senior standout Marc Allen (District Heights, MD / Sociology). It was Allen’s third time being named as an All-CIAA selection. Furthermore, he led all Shaw participants with an overall finish of 7th place with a time of 27.38.0. The Bears had two additional Top 15 performers. Arnold placed 9th with a time of 28.02.7 and freshman Craig Perkins (Hampton, VA / Computer Information Systems) placed 13th with a time of 29.14.3.
Coach Montague openly expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the University’s Administration, Athletic Administration, Athletic Trainers, and the Transportation Department for supporting both teams throughout the year. Now both teams tread back to their training terrain as they prepare for the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championship that will be held in Wingate, NC on November 4, 2007.
For more information on the 2007 CIAA Cross Country Championships, please visit: http://www.theciaa.com/championships/2007-08/fall/xc-championship1018
