Bryan News

Elizabeththon, TN - The 2008 Appalachian Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship took place Saturday morning at the Sycamore Shoals State Park.  Bryan College senior Andrew Dorn led his team to a fifth place finish, as he took ninth overall and secured the final individual qualifying spot for the national championship running 27:14. Milligan College took both team titles and secured an automatic birth into the NAIA XC National Championships.  Montreat College's Wilbourn Kosgei was the individual champion while covering the eight-kilometer course in 25:55.  Freshman Gillian Giffen of Milligan led her team with the individual victory in a time of 18:33 over the five-kilometer course.  Bryan College freshman Ericka Simpson (Grayson, GA) was 15th overall and led her team to a 6th place finish with a time of 20:29.    Dorn was named all-conference along with his teammate Hunter Hall, while Simpson was selected to the all-freshmen team.

"Dorn ran a solid race and coming in to today knew he had a chance to qualify for the naitonal championship.  He has come a long way in the last few years and I'm proud of his performance.  Ericka keeps improving and could possibly get a spot at the national championship if Montreat College gets an at-large bid on the women's side.  She finished well coming down the final eight-hundred meters," stated coach Rodney Stoker.

Sophomore Hunter Hall (Brentwood, TN) ran a solid race for the Lions finishing tenth and one spot back Dorn and the final qualifying selection for the national championship race in 27:22.  Simpson missed qualifying by one athlete just as Hall did in the men's race. 

"Hunter continues to progress and showed that with his all-conference performance.  He was moving late and passed five athletes in the last kilometer," said Stoker.

Junior Bailey Payne (Pikeville, TN) ran well finishing 23rd with a time of 20:56.  Alyssia Lindsay (Fr - Dayton, TN) took 26th in 21:18.  Rounding out the scoring for the ladies was Rhea Brown and Elisa Cruz with finishes of 32nd and 39th. 

"Our girls had the best race of the season and still came up short of our goal.  Covenant finished fifth and one point ahead of us in the final standings.  I'm happy with efforts and how the future looks as we move up the rankings in the conference."

For the men's program, Matt Wren (Fr - Ooltewah, TN) was 28th in 28:42.  Senior Kyle Rascher and freshman Colby Smith completed the scoring for the Lions with finishes of 36th and 47th.  Wren was named to the AAC all-freshmen team.

"Our 3-4-5 athletes had rough days, but I believe they gave what they could today.  It just didn't work out the way we had hoped.  It's more of what some of the other programs did the last half of the race and what we didn't do.  Matt and Colby are young and have a lot to learn, but I believe they are doing that and will be hungry come track season."

Andrew Dorn will represent Bryan College at the NAIA XC National Championships in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Saturday, November 22. 

2008 AAC XC Results (Men)
2008 AAC XC Results (Women)