Rams, Lady Rams Open 2011 Cross Country Season with Stellar Efforts
GREENSBORO, NC – The defending Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) cross country champion Winston-Salem State Rams and Lady Rams got the season underway with a great performance at the 2011 Guilford College Cross Country Carnival. The Rams finished third at the meet with 64 total team points behind host Guilford College and UNC-Greensboro. The Lady Rams placed second at the meet with 63 total points, behind only UNC-Greensboro.
Four Rams runners ranked in the top 20 in the event. Winston-Salem State junior Andrew Chebii set the stage for the Rams with a meet record 15:47.29 in the men's 5K run. Senior Desmond Wiggan added a sixth-place finish in the meet with a 16:45.30. Fellow senior Aaron Barnes added a 13th-place finish with a 17:60.
The Lady Rams also had a great season-opening effort with freshman Aquila Jones leading the way. She was one of six Lady Rams runners to break into the top 20 at the meet when she placed ninth with a 21:42.19. Junior Manuela Rigaud placed 11th with a 22:07.76. Sophomore Brittany Killebrew placed 14th with a 22:53.65 while junior Tyrah Winfrey added a 15th place finish with a 23:04.96. Senior Ashley Lawson added a 19th place finish with a 23:17.68 while sophomore Kristi Baptiste rounded out the top 20 with a 23:18.33.
The Rams and Lady Rams will return to action at the adidas Cross Country Challenge hosted by North Carolina State on Friday, September 16th. For more information on Rams and Lady Rams cross country, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.
