CARY, NC - William and Mary claimed its first team victory of the 2005 season today at the Great American Cross Country Festival, steadily increasing the pressure to win by a margin of twelve after being locked in a tight battle all race long. The men's Race of Champions featured nine teams ranked in their regions, including seven from the Southeast, as well as Abilene Christian, the three-time Division II runner-up and currently ranked No. 2 in Division II. After W&M, ranked 16th in the latest MONDO Division I poll, was state rival University of Virginia and Abilene Christian in second and third. Wake Forest and Charlotte rounded out the top five.

All-American sophomore Christo Landry (Falls Church, VA) took third in his first race of 2005 to lead the Tribe, completing the eight kilometers in 24:12. Hard on his heels was teammate Jeff Hedley (Virginia Beach, VA), clocking 24:16.3. Also placing in the top 10 for William and Mary was sophomore Ian Fitzgerald (Glenshaw, PA), out-sprinting a trio of UVA runners to give W&M a valuable point differential. Next in the chute was junior Adam Tenerowicz (Blackstone, MA) in 15th (24:38), with classmate Keith Bechtol (Alexandria, VA) and 2004 Colonial Athletic Association Champion Matt Keally (Virginia Beach, VA) taking 17th and 18th, separated by 2.6 seconds. Sophomore Dave Mock (Johnstown, PA) rounded out the displacing runners for the Tribe in 26th.

Earlier in the "Seeded" University race, the Tribe's "B" team acquitted itself very well, demonstrating the outstanding depth of the team by claiming third in a field of "A" teams, including #18 N.C. State. Steve Hoogland (Springfield, VA) took 10th in the race (25:02.3), followed by Kyle Pawlaczyk (Orchard Park, NY) in 19th (25:23.1). Racing for the first time as attached runners in the Green and Gold were Joel Parker (Portsmouth, VA), Andrew Press (Knoxville, TN), and James Picard (Midlothian, VA).

The next race for W&M is Saturday, October 15, at the Pre-National Invitational in Terre Haute, Indiana. That same day, part of the team will remain in Williamsburg to contest the Tribe Open at Eastern State Hospital.

Race of Champions Top Five Teams
Place Team Score
1 #16 W&M 48
2 Virginia 60
3 Abilene Christian 83
4 Wake Forest 138
5 Charlotte 168

Race of Champions Top 5 Individuals:
Place Individual Team Time
1 Nicodemus Naimadu ACU 23:59.6
2 Matt Clark Clemson 24:09.4
3 Christo Landry W&M 24:12
4 Jeff Hedley W&M 24:16.3
5 John Ciccarelli Richmond 24:19

Other W&M Race of Champions Individuals
9 Ian Fitzgerald 24:25.7
15 Adam Tenerowicz 24:38
17 Keith Bechtol 24:40
18 Matt Keally 24:42.6
26 Dave Mock 25:14.4
37 Anthony Arena 25:24.7
41 Dan Nally 25:36.8

Seeded Race Top Five Teams
Place Team Score
1 #18 N.C. State 33
2 Norfolk State 81
3 William and Mary "B" 113
4 Coastal Carolina 153
5 Virginia Commonwealth 155

Seeded Race Top 5 Individuals:
Place Individual Team Time
1 David Kemboi NSU 24:12.9
2 Wesley Smith Unattached 24:31.5
3 Chris Kollar NC State 24:37.5
4 Hillary Cheruiyot NSU 24:41.2
5 Steve Walters VCU 24:43.2

W&M Seeded Race Individuals
10 Steve Hoogland 25:02.3
19 Kyle Pawlaczyk 25:23.1
31 Joel Parker 25:54.7
34 Andrew Press 26:03.1
40 James Picard 26:11.5