Date Posted: 8/20/2007

Macon, Ga. – The Belmont stranglehold on the men’s and women’s cross country titles is expected to continue in 2007 as both teams were the picks to win the league titles, the Atlantic Sun Conference announced on Monday. The men were the unanimous choice while the women were picked first by 11 of the 12 coaches.

After scoring just 21 points at the 2006 Atlantic Sun Championships, the Belmont men return four of their scoring runners from the meet, including 2006 individual champion and A-Sun Runner of the Year, Kipkosgei Magut. Magut, a junior, won two individual titles last fall and finished 10th at the NCAA South Regional. The Bruins, winners of the last five men’s championships, also feature seniors Kevin Stone (5th at 2006 A-Sun Championship) and John Brigham (6th) along with sophomore Clay Hannah (7th). Hannah was the 2006 Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year.

"We won last year's championship and are fortunate to have most of our core back for this season,” Belmont head coach Jeff Langdon said. “I can't speak to how other teams have done in their recruiting, but I always preach to our guys to just ‘take care of your own business’. I believe that Kennesaw will be really good this year and I fully expect them to be in the mix at the end of the year."

The leading challengers to dethrone Belmont should be Kennesaw State and ETSU; they were the only two schools to receive second-place votes. The Owls, second to Belmont in 2006, return five of their runners from the A-Sun Championships including junior Scott Burley, who finished third, and Peikko Solla (11th). Solla was the second-fastest freshman at the league meet. ETSU finished third in 2006 and return their top four runners from that meet including All-Atlantic Sun runner Michael Deren.

The Belmont women return three of the top eight from last year’s A-Sun Championship, including senior Lauren Williams. Williams was the runner-up at the league meet and has been a three-time member of the all-Atlantic Sun team. She will be joined by Elizabeth Smothers, who finished 5th at the A-Sun Championship and Brittany Thune, whose eighth place finish earned her the Atlantic Sun Freshman of the Year honor.

"Its an honor anytime you are picked to win and get that kind of recognition from your peers and its also a reflection on the program and its past success,” Belmont head coach Seth Sheridan said. "Hopefully we can stay healthy and try to make this come to fruition."

The lone first-place vote not to go to Belmont went to the UNF women’s team. In 2006, the Ospreys finished a mere 14 points behind the Bruins. In 2007, UNF will return Amanda Davey (4th at the A-Sun Championship), an all-Atlantic Sun performer, along with Hillary Adams a member of the All-Freshman team.

Kennesaw State, third at the 2006 A-Sun Championships was the third choice by the coaches in the preseason poll. The Owls return four of its runners from the league meet including Erin Sutton, the 2005 Freshman of the Year and a member of the All-Atlantic Sun team in both 2005 and last season. The Owls found more youthful talent last year with Soibham Wolcott. She made the All-Freshman team following a 21st-place finish at the A-Sun Championships.

The Atlantic Sun Conference, headquartered in Macon, Ga., consists of Belmont, Campbell, ETSU, Florida Gulf Coast, Gardner-Webb, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Mercer, UNF, Stetson, and USC Upstate.

Related Links:
 • A-Sun Men's Cross Country
 • A-Sun Women's Cross Country