Oct. 27, 2006

NEWARK, Del. - George Mason's men's cross country team finished in third place, while the women's team placed 10th, at the Colonial Athletic Association Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships hosted by the University of Delaware on Friday morning at White Clay Creek State Park. The College of William & Mary swept the team titles and James Madison runners Dena Spickard and CW Moran swept the individual titles.

The William & Mary women claimed their fourth straight team title with 25 points as they placed six runners in the top 10 and 10 in the top 20, easily besting runner-up Georgia State, who finished with 83. James Madison, which had finished second or higher each of the last 11 seasons, placed third with 87 points followed by Delaware (121), Towson (143), Northeastern (159), Hofstra (163), Virginia Commonwealth (208), UNC Wilmington (210), and George Mason (284). Spickard won the race with a time of 21:33.99 over the six-kilometer course, outdistancing runner-up Meghan Bishop of William & Mary (21:42.76). Kaitlin Hurley of William & Mary was third in 22:02.89 followed by Rachel Hannah of Georgia State in 22:16.20. Alicia York was the top finisher for Mason, placing 56th with a time of 24:37.77.

Leading the way for Mason's men's team was senior Charles Millioen. The transfer from Georgetown was second only to Moran, who set a new course record at the event. Moran captured the individual title with a course-record time of 24:33.39 over the eight-kilometer layout, defeating runner-up Millioen, who finished the race in 24:59.18. Moran's time broke the previous course mark of 25:01.47 set by Jochen Dieckfoss of Boston University in 2000.

The William & Mary men won their seventh straight team title and 14th in the last 17 years as the Tribe put five runners in the top 10 and nine in the top 20 to earn 32 points, easily outdistancing runner-up James Madison with 63 points. George Mason was third with a score of 98 followed by Georgia State (104), Virginia Commonwealth (111), UNC Wilmington (152), Delaware (168), Hofstra (243), and Northeastern (268). Trailing Moran and Millioen was Georgia State's Mark Steeds, who was third (25:11.53), while William & Mary's contingent was led by fourth-place finisher Sean Anastasia-Murphy (25:12.35).

George Mason's men's and women's cross country teams will compete again next weekend at the Cavalier Open, scheduled to begin at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Panorama Farms in Earlysville, Va.

Women's Final Team Standings: 1. William & Mary - 25; 2. Georgia State - 83; 3. James Madison - 87; 4. Delaware - 121; 5. Towson - 143; 6. Northeastern - 159; 7. Hofstra - 163; 8. Virginia Commonwealth - 208; 9. UNC Wilmington - 210; 10. George Mason - 284.

Top 10 Finishers: 1. Dena Spickard (JMU), 21:33.99; 2. Meghan Bishop (WM), 21:42.76; 3. Kaitlin Hurley (WM), 22:02.89; 4. Rachel Hannah (GSU), 22:16.20; 5. Emily Schroeder (WM), 22:22.24; 6. Caitlin Price (GSU), 22:24.32; 7. Anna Brousell (WM), 22:27.27; 8. Anna Parker (WM), 22:29.95; 9. Emily Gousen (WM), 22:31.15; 10. Julia Somers (DEL), 22:31.59.

Men's Final Team Standings: 1. William & Mary - 32; 2. James Madison - 63; 3. George Mason - 98; 4. Georgia State - 104; 5. Virginia Commonwealth - 111; 6. UNC Wilmington - 152; 7. Delaware - 168; 8. Hofstra - 243; 9. Northeastern - 268.

Top 10 Finishers: 1. CW Moran (JMU), 24:33.39; 2. Charles Millioen (Mason), 24:59.18; 3. Mark Steeds (GSU), 25:11.53; 4. Sean Anastasia-Murphy (WM), 25:12.35; 5. Dave Mock (WM), 25:12.72; 6. Anthony Arena (WM), 25:15.88; 7. Jason Schoener (WM), 25:21.60; 8. Cary Chaffee (VCU), 25:27.06; 9. Jay Wyss (VCU), 25:30.15; 10. Dan Nally (WM), 25:31.60.