CROSS COUNTRY COMPETES AT NAIA NATIONALS
11/21/2009 11:02:13 PM
VANCOVER, WA- The University of South Carolina Beaufort competed at the NAIA Men’s and Women’s Cross Country National Championships in Fort Vancouver Washington. Each race consisted of approximately 32 teams and over 320 individuals.
After 22 hours of travel Coach Kimball, Stephen Wilson, Nic Tones, Frank Tinsley, and Katie Mock finally reached their destination at the NAIA XC Nationals. Friday consisted of a guided tour of Nike Headquarters , followed by the Cross Country Banquet with keynote speaker and running legend Alberto Salazar who Coach Kimball acknowledged as, “AMAZING, and a great inspiration,” for the USCB Athletes, “it’s motivating.”
The men’s race consisted of 32 teams and over 320 individuals. Stephen Wilson led the three men Sand Shark team in his first National appearance finishing 233rd in a time of 27:43. In his second National appearance, Nic Tones finished 271st in a time of 28:30. Finishing 283rd place for the Sand Sharks was Frank Tinsley in a time of 28:47.
Katie Mock, the only Lady Sand Shark to make it to Nationals finished 262 in a time of 21:22.
Coach Kimball felt that “Stephen ran a really smart race, picking off people the entire time. Katie ran really well also. Overall this was a great experience, unlike any during the regular season.” “Nationals,” according to Coach Kimball, “Is a totally different animal that is incomparable to any race we ran this fall.”
The Sand Sharks look forward to next year’s race, and will hopefully bring a full team to the 2010 XC Nationals.