GOLDEN SUNS FINISH THIRD AT 2009 GSC CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS; BAILEE MILLER EARNS GSC FRESHMAN OF
THE YEAR HONORS AFTER FINISHING SECOND OVERALL

        HOOVER, Alabama – Behind the strength of two runners in the Top 15, including freshman Bailee Miller finishing in second place, the Arkansas Tech Cross Country team finished in third place for the second consecutive season at the 2009 Gulf South Conference Cross Country Championships held here Saturday at Veteran’s Park.

Tech, who is ranked third in the latest USTFCCCA D-II South Region poll, scored 109 points to finish 10 points in front of fourth place West Georgia (119 points) and 24 points behind second place West Florida (85 points). It was Tech’s fifth third-place finish at the GSC Meet since joining the league in 1995.

“I’m proud of the effort our team gave today,” Golden Suns Coach Tom Aspel said. “Bailee ran a really good race and I’m proud of her accomplishments this season.”

Harding took home the team title for the fifth consecutive season as the Lady Bison had seven of its runners finish in the Top 10 to score 20 points. The 20 points was the best since Harding scored 19 points in 2006.

          Miller, who is a native of Dover, Ark., ran the 5,000-mile Veteran’s Park course in a time of 18:42 to finish nearly two seconds behind Harding’s Katy Grant (18:40), who took home first place honors. With her second place finish, Miller earns First-Team All-GSC honors and also becomes the first Golden Sun to be named GSC Freshman of the Year. In addition, Miller’s time of 18:42 is also the seventh fastest time in school history.

          Besides Grant and Miller, Harding’s trio of Esther Kosgei, Gladys Kimtai and Rysper Sirma rounded out the top finishers at this year’s GSC Meet.

          In addition to Miller, senior Melissa Pollreis (Gravette, Ark.) ran a time of 19:58 to finish in 13th place to earn Second-Team All-GSC honors after being a first team honoree last season. Junior Michelle Pollreis (Gravette, Ark.) ran the course in a time of 20:44 to finish in 25th place, while junior Lauren Karnitz (DeSoto, Kan.) ran a time of 20:51 to finish in 27th place overall and Jenna Siebenmorgen (Fort Smith, Ark.) ran a time of 21:43 to finish in 46th place. The final finisher for the Golden Suns was junior Stormi Richardson (Lumberton, Texas), who finished 49th overall after running the 5,000-meter course in a time of 21:51.

          The Golden Suns will return to action on Saturday, Nov. 7, when they compete at the 2009 NCAA Division II South Regional Meet hosted by the University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla.

TECH WOMEN – INDIVIDUAL

          Overall      Team       Runner                          Time

          2                  2            Bailee Miller                    18:42

          13                13          Melissa Pollreis                19:58

          25                24          Michelle Pollreis               20:44

          27                26          Lauren Karnitz                20:51

          46                44          Jenna Siebenmorgen       21:43

          49                47          Stormi Richardson           21:51

          2009 GSC Cross Country Championship results