Date Posted: 9/5/2007

MACON, Ga. – For the second straight year, Kennesaw State’s Erin Sutton has opened her cross country season with an individual title. She defended her crown at the Jacksonsville State Season Opener en route to earning the first Atlantic Sun Runner of the Week Award for 2007, the conference office announced on Wednesday.

Sutton, a junior from Dallas, Ga. led the Owls to a win at the JSU Opener for the second straight year, winning the event in a time of 10:53, edging out teammate Mackenzie Howe by seven seconds. The 2005 A-Sun Freshman of the Year and two-time all-Atlantic Sun runner extended her streak of consecutive top-10 finishes to 13, dating back to her freshman season.

Kennesaw State runs next at the Mercer-Atlanta Invitational on Saturday in Atlanta.

The Atlantic Sun Conference announces the Athlete of the Week every Wednesday during the 2007 cross country season.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is a 12-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Gardner-Webb University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers

Abby Callahan, GWU (So. - Pickering, Ontario - Undecided) -- Placed fifth at the Western Carolina Invitational two-mile race with a time of 12:29.80.

Anastasia Fokina, JU (Fr. - Dmitrov, Moscow, Russia. - Undecided) -- Finished second out of 36 runners in first collegiate race with a time of 10:52 at JU Short Course Duals.

Erin Pyles, LIP (Jr. - Point Pleasant, W.V. - Bible) -- Top 30 finish (29th) in the 4-K run at the Belmont Opener. Her time of 15:32 was a 1-minute, 29 second improvement from same race last season.

Related Links:
 • Atlantic Sun Women's Cross Country