Aug. 31, 2006
ATLANTA – The Georgia Tech men’s and women’s cross country teams will open the 2006 season on Friday, Sept. 1, 2006, at the Belmont Opener in Nashville, Tenn. The women’s 4k race will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the Vaughn’s Creek course followed by the men’s 5k at 6 p.m. on the same course.
Senior David Herren and junior Nazar Trilisky lead the men’s team looking to improve on their 2005 finish. Last season Herren finished in the top four for the Jackets in all five races he competed in.
Trilisky was Tech’s top runner during the ’05 season. He placed sixth overall at the Mercer Atlanta Invitational with a time of 17:09 in the 5K as the Jackets finished second in the competition and placed first among Tech competitors in five of six races.
Also returning for the Jackets is a group of sophomores, Greg Johnson, James Taylor, Casey Grambling and Will Bonn that gained some valuable experience last year and should all contribute in ’06.
“I feel we are working well and making improvements,” said head coach Alan Drosky of the men’s team. “I expect to see those improvements in the meets. We want to get to the point where we can be in the top part of the conference.”
Juniors Nisha Kurian and Elena Linn headline a talented women’s team. Kurian, placed eighth overall at the Mercer Atlanta Invitational with a time of 13:38 to help the Jackets to a first-place finish. She finished first among Tech’s competitors in five of six races last season. Linn recorded a season best time of 18:30 at the Notre Dame Invitational in the 5K.
Also returning to the Jackets are seniors Mary Chind and Jenny Sims, two solid performers, who will look to continue to improve and provide leadership. The women’s team will also welcome three freshmen Carola Conces, Kiersten Peterson and Lindsey Pickens to help solidify the unit.
“We are really excited about the women’s team,” said Drosky. “We are back on track to being close to the kind of team we were a couple of years ago.”
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