Sept. 19, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Led by sophomore Mary Kate DuBard and junior D.J. McMillan, the Georgia Tech men’s and women’s cross country teams posted top-five finishes at the Crimson Classic Friday in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Wrapping up the meet in time before rain and lightning struck the area, the Tech men placed fourth with 153 points. No. 10 Alabama took first with 34 points followed by Tennessee with 55 points and Auburn with 76.
McMillan paced the Jackets with a 26:09 in the 8K. Also performing well was senior Billy Mateker, who crossed the line in 26:29 at 34th. Senior Matt Hickey was soon after in 36th (26:31) and freshman Patrick Barron trailed in 37th (26:32).
Rounding out the scoring for the men was senior Greg Johnson in 40th (26:44).
After missing key runners in the season-opener, the Tech women returned to full strength and it showed immediately. DuBard picked up where she left off in 2008, finishing the 5K run 12th-place (18:08). Tech’s top two both hail from the state of South Carolina, as freshman Kate Borowicz finished 16th in a time of 18:24 in her first ever collegiate competition.
The final three scorers were junior Felicity Brower (18:58), sophomore Betsy Kim (19:09) and senior Veronica Kinard (19:26), finishing 25th, 31st and 39th respectively.
In the team standings, Alabama took first with 43 points, trailed by Auburn with 75 points and Tennessee with 88, before Tech’s 115.
The Jackets will return to action at the Great American Cross Country Festival on Oct. 2 in Cary, N.C.
