Abilene Christian men get perfect score at regional

JOPLIN, Mo. -- Abilene Christian (Texas) University recorded a perfect score of 15 on Saturday (Nov. 6) in capturing their its consecutive South Central Region men’s cross country championship.

The Wildcats were one of three men’s teams from the region to earn a spot in the NCAA Division II Championships to be held Nov. 20 in Evansville, Ind. Central Missouri State University (73) and regional host Missouri Southern State University (129) also grabbed NCAA berths on Saturday.

The women’s race saw two teams from the South Central Region pick up spots in the NCAA Championships field. Central Missouri State charted a score of 71 to win by 14 over runner-up Truman. Both teams will be competing in two weeks in Evansville.

Abilene Christian’s men were led by freshman Nicodemus Naimadu, who finished the 10-kilometer race in 29 minutes, 58.40 seconds. ACU senior Bernard Manirakiza was second in 30:52.00, followed by teammates junior Martin Okello, freshman Laurent Ngirakamaro and sophomore Lucky Hadebe in the top five. The group finished just ahead of a Missouri Southern senior pair, Craig Rhoads and Paul Koehler.

Two men’s individuals also advanced to the NCAA-II Championships. Truman State University junior Aaron Wells and Angelo State University junior Trent Joseph finished ninth and 11th, respectively. They were the top two runners in the meet not an already advancing team.

On the women’s side, the race was hotly contested for the second and final team qualifying spot. Truman finished just six points ahead of third place Pittsburg State (91 points), which was seeking its third straight regional crown. Abilene Christian, which had the meet’s individual champion in Adeh Mwamba, was just eight points back of Truman. Mwamba completed the 6-kilometer race in 21 minutes, 34.80 seconds, one of three ACU women to advance as individuals to the national championships.

Abilene Christian also qualified Trina Cox (third place) and Olha Kryvyak (fourth). They were among the five individual national qualifiers produced by the South Central Region. Central Missouri State senior Kristin Anderson and Missouri Southern junior Megan Russell also earned individual spots at the NCAA meet by placing second and fifth, respectively.


	NOV. 6, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Abilene Christian men get perfect score at regional JOPLIN, Mo. -- Abilene Christian (Texas) University recorded a perfect score of 15 on Saturday (Nov. 6) in capturing their its consecutive South Central Region men’s cross country championship. The Wildcats were one of three men’s teams from the region to earn a spot in the NCAA Division II Championships to be held Nov. 20 in Evansville, Ind. Central Missouri State University (73) and regional host Missouri Southern State University (129) also grabbed NCAA berths on Saturday. The women’s race saw two teams from the South Central Region pick up spots in the NCAA Championships field. Central Missouri State charted a score of 71 to win by 14 over runner-up Truman. Both teams will be competing in two weeks in Evansville. Abilene Christian’s men were led by freshman Nicodemus Naimadu, who finished the 10-kilometer race in 29 minutes, 58.40 seconds. ACU senior Bernard Manirakiza was second in 30:52.00, followed by teammates junior Martin Okello, freshman Laurent Ngirakamaro and sophomore Lucky Hadebe in the top five. The group finished just ahead of a Missouri Southern senior pair, Craig Rhoads and Paul Koehler. Two men’s individuals also advanced to the NCAA-II Championships. Truman State University junior Aaron Wells and Angelo State University junior Trent Joseph finished ninth and 11th, respectively. They were the top two runners in the meet not an already advancing team. On the women’s side, the race was hotly contested for the second and final team qualifying spot. Truman finished just six points ahead of third place Pittsburg State (91 points), which was seeking its third straight regional crown. Abilene Christian, which had the meet’s individual champion in Adeh Mwamba, was just eight points back of Truman. Mwamba completed the 6-kilometer race in 21 minutes, 34.80 seconds, one of three ACU women to advance as individuals to the national championships. Abilene Christian also qualified Trina Cox (third place) and Olha Kryvyak (fourth). They were among the five individual national qualifiers produced by the South Central Region. Central Missouri State senior Kristin Anderson and Missouri Southern junior Megan Russell also earned individual spots at the NCAA meet by placing second and fifth, respectively.