Cross-country teams capture Georgia Intercollegiate titles

Last weekend was a successful one for the men's and women's cross-country teams. Each team finished 10th in the 63-team Auburn Bank Invitational on Friday at the Indian Pines Golf Course in Auburn, Ala. Senior Becky Megesi finished 17th to pace the women's team, while senior Brad Mills was 22nd to lead the men's team. The race was a preview of the course that will host the NCAA District IX championship meet on November 13.

Megesi completed the 5,000 meter run in 17:31, and was the only Jacket in the top 50. Junior Sara Pardue was 51st in 18:10; freshman Aenslee Tanner was 58th in 18:22; junior Rachael Caruso was 65th in 18:31; and senior Tina Frey was 77th in 18:43 to round out Tech's scoring. Michigan State won the women's team title with 73 points, while Tulane's Hanne Lyngstad was the individual winner in 16:49.

Mills covered the 8,000 meter run in 25:18 and also was the only athlete from the men's team in the top 50. Sophomore Joey Zins was 54th in 25:59; senior Giovanni Pipia was 77th in 26:24; senior Brent Williams was 89th in 26:34 and junior Brent Johnson was 93rd in 26:39 to round out the scorers for Tech. Princeton won the men's competiton with 85 points, while David Kimani of South Alabama was the individual winner in 24:16.

The good fortune continued for the teams on Saturday, as both teams won titles at the Georgia Intercollegiate Championships in Panthersville. The men's team won its fourth consecutive and ninth of the decade, while the women's team win their fourth consecutive and fifth of the '90s.

Tech's men's squad edged Georgia State 27-28 as Joe Poliseo finished third in a time of 27:09, but was first among team scorers. Matt O'Brien was fifth in the team scoring in 27:36 and 27th overall, as Tech swept spots 5-8. Junior Jared McGehee was sixth and 29th overall in 27:50, senior Kenneth Grimes was seventh and 42nd overall in 28:29, and senior David Moritz was eighth and 49th overall in 28:45. Georgia's Ben Corona was first among Division I runners in 26:26, but the Bulldogs did not have a full squad in the team competition.

Tech's women defeated Georgia State 25-30 as freshman Ginny Smith was the Division I individual winner and seventh overall in 20:12. Redshirt-freshman Amanda Woodall was third and15th overall in 20:34 to pace Tech. Junior Carolyn Kreiger was fifth and 18th overall in 20:46, while junior Ashley Espy was sixth and 19th overall in 20:47. Elizabeth Greene rounded out Tech's scoring by finishing with a time of 21:04.