Published on Berryvikings.com on November 2006

Cross Country: Vikings Prepare for NAIA National Championship

Nov. 14, 2005

MOUNT BERRY, Ga….The Berry College men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete in the NAIA National Championship in Louisville, Ky. this Saturday. The races will be held at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park, where the men’s 8,000 meter race will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by the women’s 5,000 meter race at 11:30.
 
 For both teams, this marks the ninth time in the past 10 years that they have advanced to the National Championship. In 2004, the men’s team finished 14th while the women’s team finished 28th.

 Berry’s teams will compete in fields of 28 teams each. During their season, the Vikings ran against six teams that they will see again at the championship meet.  The Lady Vikes have already competed against eight of the teams qualifying for their national meet.
 
Competing for Berry on the men’s side will be: David Kawa, Ben Krichko, Luke Godleski, Chris Rodriguez, Ryan McClay, Adam Newton, Ryan Harrison and alternate Eric Mitchell. The Lady Vikings will be represented by: Becky Ament, Doran Mabry, Nicole Degner, Laurie Cook, Tyler Moss, Eva Gordon, Ashley Andereck and alternate Lynn Roney.

 Both teams enter the national meet coming off of successful seasons. The Vikings not only won the men’s and women’s Region XIII Championship meet, but also the Southern States Athletic Conference Championship held simultaneously with the region meet. In the current NAIA national rankings, the men are ranked 23rd and the women are in the 26th position, with five votes.   

NAIA National Championship Meet Information

Men’s Teams Qualifying

Women’s Teams Qualifying

…berryvikings…