MEN: Individual Results | Team Results
WOMEN: Individual Results | Team Results
NEW MARKET, Ala. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville cross country teams kicked off the 2012 campaign on Saturday at the UAH-hosted Fleet Feet Sports/Earl Jacoby Memorial Invitational, and the men's squad ran away with the title on the course that will also serve as the host site for the 2012 NCAA South Regional. The Lady Chargers posted a solid fourth.
 
Showing no signs of a sophomore slump, Blaise Binns crossed the line in 25:55 to take home the individual championship, besting teammate and fellow sophomore Jose Ortega by five seconds as Ortega finished the course in 26:00.
 
Joey Bemowski clocked in at 26:33 to place fourth while also smashing his previous career-best in the 8K by more than 30 seconds, and freshman Taylor Buzzard ran to a 27:10 time which was good for ninth to give the Chargers four in the top 10. That strong performance helped the Blue and White to a team total of 30 points, blowing away second-place West Florida who tallied 50 points.
 
Morehouse finished with 54 points, and Tennessee Tech (100 points) and Montevallo (148 points) placed a distant fourth and fifth, respectively.
 
Rounding out UAH's scorers was Costa Smith as the freshman finished in 27:28.
 
Dante Dorsey (15th / 27:33), Jakin Foster (22nd / 27:52), Kenneth Richardson (29th / 28:21), and Jeff Wilson (30th / 28:22) all competed for the Chargers on the day also.
 
On the women's side, the Lady Chargers were paced by individual champion Vicky Winslow who was nearly 20 seconds faster than the second-place finisher as the sophomore clocked a time of 18:48, and she was joined in the top five by sophomore Michelle Kruse who finished in 19:45.
 
UAH only ran five on the women's side due to injuries, and the group finished in fourth with 87 points just behind third-place West Florida who recorded 82 points. The team championship was won by Delta State (68 points), Montevallo finished second (79 points), and Young Harris scored 95 points to round out the top five.
 
Crossing the line next for the Lady Chargers after Kruse with a 20:55 time was freshman Kayla Luechtefeld, and turning in a performance of 21:13 was Kelsey Crawford who finished 26th. Wrapping up the Blue and White contingent, a 21:36 time for Amber Powell allowed her to finish 34th.
 
The teams will return to action next Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Pre-Nationals meet in Joplin, Mo.