PLEASANT GARDEN, N.C. – Shenandoah University won its first-ever USA South Conference cross country title with a women's championship Saturday afternoon at the 2010 championships hosted at Hagan Stone Park just outside out Greensboro.
The Hornets become the just the third school in league history to win the title with their five-point win over Christopher Newport.
The Captains were 12-time defending champions and had lost just one league championship, to Averett in 1997, prior to Saturday.
No. 4 in the South Shenandoah wrested the title from sixth-ranked CNU by finishing first, fourth, eighth, ninth and tenth to the Captains second, fifth, sixth, 11th and 13th.
Junior Amy Smith had that first place finish for SU, running the course in 23:33 to win by six seconds over CNU's Erin Rolaf.
Smith is the first SU woman to win the individual title.
Senior Jennie Ott was fourth, sophomores Tracey Swope and Roni Frye eighth and ninth, respectively, while senior Brandi Sobanko was the 10th place finisher.
On the men's side, SU finished second to Christopher Newport for the fourth straight year. The championship is the 18th consecutive for the Captains.
Junior Josiah Renton, who was named as the Runner of the Year on Tuesday, won the event for the second straight season.
Renton had a 26:22 over the 8000 meter course. He won by 20 seconds after being second with just over a half-mile to go.
Freshman Ryan Taylor was sixth, Jake Garcia seventh and Tim Robinson 13th to help Shenandoah to that second place finish.
All of the student-athletes mentioned above earned All-USA South honors based on their finish.
Both teams are off next week and return to action on November 13 at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional in Memphis, Tenn.
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