Lenoir-Rhyne’s Kate Griewisch Finishes 19th At NCAA Cross Country Championship

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Lenoir-Rhyne University's Kate Griewisch earned All-American honors Saturday at the 2009 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships in Evansville, Ind. Griewisch finished 19th out of 184 runners in the women's race and ran a 21:30 on the 6K course hosted by the University of Southern Indiana.

Adams State won the 2009 NCAA Division II Women's Cross Country National Championship while Seattle Pacific's Jessica Pixler was the top individual with a 20:22.

Griewisch becomes the first-ever Lenoir-Rhyne runner to earn NCAA Division II All-American honors in cross country.

The Banner Elk, N.C., native finished first at both the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional race two weeks ago and the 2009 South Atlantic Conference Championship in October in Newton, N.C. Griewisch also led L-R to back-to-back league championships.

For her efforts, Griewisch was named the USTFCCCA (United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) NCAA Division II Southeast Region Women's Athlete Of The Year and the 2009 SAC Runner Of The Year.

An outstanding student as well, Griewisch was received the 2009 South Atlantic Conference Women's Cross Country Scholar Athlete Award.

Mars Hill men finish 24th

The Mars Hill men's cross country team finished 24th overall at the NCAA Division II National Championship Cross Country Meet on Saturday. The 10K race was held at the University of Southern Indiana.

Leading the way for the Lions was Trey McCain (Leesville, S.C.). He finished the event in a time of 34:04.7. Justin Gragg (Lenoir, N.C.) finished second on the team in a time of 35:01.4. The third finisher on the Mars Hill team was Eric Blackburn (State Road, N.C.) just two seconds behind Gragg.