2009 CAA Cross Country Championships - 10/31/2009
Hosted by James Madison University
New Market Battlefield, New Market, VA

RICHMOND, Va. – Head Coach Julian Spooner of the Virginia Commonwealth University men’s cross knew what kind of talent he was getting when junior Walid Berkhedle (Toronto, Ontario) joined his squad this year.

What he didn’t know about was the toughness and heart that Berkhedle possessed.

Those traits were on display Saturday morning as the junior transfer from Clayton State dashed through the eight-kilometer Colonial Athletic Association championship course for a time of 25:41.21, good enough for 11th-place and a spot on the All-CAA squad.

Unfortunately for the Black & Gold, that was the only bright spot of the day as the Rams finished fifth at the championships, behind William & Mary, George Mason, Delaware and Northeastern. It was the 10th straight conference title for the Tribe.

“Walid was really our only good performance of the weekend,” Spooner said. “He was battling all sorts of pain, but pulled through for an All-CAA spot, which was great for him. Overall, though, I’m pretty disappointed on the outcome. I really thought if we were able to put things together we can finish top two or three.”

Senior Piotr Dybas (Jaslo, Poland) grabbed a top-20 finish with a time of 25:55.53 and junior Axel Mostrag (Krasnik, Poland) picked up a top-30 finish, stopping the clock in 26:38.65.

“It wasn’t great conditions with the wind and a very challenging course, but that’s not really something you can use as an excuse because it was the same for all the teams,” Spooner said.

The youth of the Black & Gold wrapped up the team’s scoring with sophomore Tyler Simmons (Manassas, Va.) and freshman Brenden Leavitt (Virginia Beach, Va.) each finishing in the top-40.

“We’ve got some solid young runners, but we have to continue to work on getting a lot better in the offseason,” Spooner added.

CAA CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

1.William & Mary 21
2.George Mason 57
3.Delaware 81
4.Northeastern 129
5.VCU 130
6.Georgia State 173
7.UNC Wilmington 176
8.Hofstra 225

Cross Country Ready for 2012 Season

On the men's side this season, the Rams will have 16 runners that will all compete for the top five spots. The competition in practice will help Cook select her starters for each race.

"I am excited to see my top five, and we are getting close to knowing who that is," said Cook.

Some of the runners that will factor in to that top five will be :
- seniors Brenden Leavitt and Justin Kendall
- sophomores Mohamed Adam, Sam Hush, Khalid Kuhmis, and Matthew Earman.



For the women's team, there will be a lot of new faces running this season. Five freshmen are on the Rams' team, who are all still adjusting to college cross country.

"I think it's difficult when you transition from high school because you don't necessarily expect the time commitment to the team," Cook said. "I try to help them as much as I can along the way, but it's a part of growing up."

The women's squad will be led on the course this year by sophomores Niema Eaves and Erin Geraghty as well as freshmen Briana Krumholtz and Lindsey Bradshaw


http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mxc/2...0913rgci4n

Cross Country Opens with Fourth Place Finish
at William & Mary Invitational


4th- Brendan Leavitt – 23:58
23rd- Mohamed Adam- 26:48
38th- Sam Hush- 27:27
48th Justin Kendall-28:09
56th- Khalid Khamis- 28:50
58th- Berham McDowell- 28:53

QUOTABLE:
"The athletes ran well today, and their performances gave me a good idea of where they are and what we need to work on. Brenden Leavitt, and Mohamed Adam looked impressive today, and I'm looking forward to everyone else focusing to get where they need to be by conference to make an impact."
-Head Coach Nicole Cook

http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mxc/2...&crop=true


Cross Country has Strong Showing in William & Mary Invitational


54th- Erin Geraghty, 20:47
58th- Lindsey Bradshaw, 21:19
66th- Brianna Krumholz, 21:41
67th- Niema Eaves, 21:46
76th- Samantha Florimo, 23:07
79th Jennifer Brooks, 23:42

QUOTABLE
"The ladies were able to put forth some decent beginning marks. This meet was a good chance for them to see where they are overall. They all have been training hard, and we will continue to train hard, to have good showings in our upcoming meets. "
- Head Coach Nicole Cook

http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/wxc/2...0915fkdko3

Bradshaw, Hinton Lead Rams at VUU Invite


EVENT:
Virginia Union Invitational (Richmond, Va.)

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Men's Race:

The VCU Men's Cross Country team won the Virginia Union Invitational with their top six runners finishing second through sixth, on Tuesday afternoon.
The Rams were led by senior Alex Hinton who placed second overall finishing with a time of 27:38.
VCU kept rolling into the finish line in order after Hinton. Sophomores Mohamed Adam and Khalid Khamis finished third and fourth, respectively, with only one second separating them.
Sophomores Samuel Hush and Matthew Earman rounded out VCU's top six. Hush finished with a time 27:57, and Earman ran a 28:17.
Women's Race:

The VCU Women's Cross Country team placed second in the Virginia Union Invitational on Tuesday at Bryan Park.
The Rams were paced by freshman Lindsey Bradshaw. Bradshaw, who was running in only her second career meet, finished second overall with a time of 18:35.
Freshman Brianna Krumholz also had a strong showing in her second career meet. The Dumfries, Va. native finished in seventh place with a 19:57.
The final Ram in the top 10 was junior Kelsey Cox, who finished in eighth place with a time of 20:02.

http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mxc/2...0920s1g539

Cross Country Continues to Improve at Virginia/Panorama Farms Invite


EVENT:
Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Men's Race

The VCU men's cross country team finished in ninth place at the Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational on Saturday morning.

The Rams were paced by senior Brenden Leavitt who finished 35th overall. Leavitt beat his time from the William & Mary Invitational, and finished with a 25:27.

The Black and Gold also had strong performances from sophomores Mohamed Adam and Samuel Hush, they ran a 26:26 and 27:07, respectively.

Sophomore Matthew Earman also improved his time from a weekend ago. He finished with time of 27:24.

Rounding out the Rams top six was senior Justin Kendall, he finished with a 27:46.

Women's Race

The VCU Women's Cross Country team placed five runners in the top 50, and finished in sixth place in the Virginia/Panorama Farms Invitational.

The Rams were led by freshmen Lindsey Bradshaw and Brianna Krumholz who finished in 37th and 38th place, respectively. Bradshaw finished with a time of 21:31, while Krumholz finished at 21:45.

Sophomore Niema Eaves finished just two spots behind Krumholz in 40th place. The Brooklyn, N.Y. native ran a 22:02.

Rounding out the Rams in the top 50 were junior Kelsey Cox and freshman Samantha Florimo. Cox finished with a time of 22:44 and Florimo finished with a time of 24:01.

http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/wxc/2...0922e5r8wj

HOW IT HAPPENED:

In the final tune up before the Atlantic 10 Championship, the VCU Women's Cross Country team ran a strong race, and placed 10th at the CNU Invite.
The Rams were paced junior Erin Geraghty who ran a 24:18 on her way to a 21st place finish in the 6K race.
Freshman Lindsey Bradshaw continued her strong rookie campaign. Bradshaw finished in 37th place and ran a 24:44
Rounding out the Rams in the top 50 were freshman Brianna Krumholz, and sophomore Niema Eaves. Krumholz' 25:06 was good for 46th place, while Eaves ran a 25:10 finishing 49th.

http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/wxc/2...1013qx5oc6


Paces Rams to First Place Finish at CNU Invite
EVENT: Christopher Newport University Invite (Newport News, Va.)

HOW IT HAPPENED:
The VCU Men's Cross Country placed all six runners in the top 50 and won the CNU Invite on Saturday with a total team score of 48.
Senior Brenden Leavitt led the Rams with a third place finish in the event. He ran a 25:34 in the 8K race.
Finishing only a second behind Leavitt, was sophomore Mohamed Adam, who placed fourth in the race. Adam finished with a time of 25:35
Sophomore Samuel Hush finished the race with a time 26:15, which was good for a ninth place finish.
The Rams would get a top 15 finish from junior Justin Kendall. Kendall ran a 26:24 and finished in 12th place.
Rounding out VCU's top six runners were sophomore Khalid Khamis and senior Alex Hinton. Khamis finished in 20th place, while Hinton finished in 38th.

http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mxc/2...10130f7e5v

Cross Country Ready for Atlantic 10 Championship


RICHMOND, Va. – VCU Athletics will get its first taste of an Atlantic 10 Championship event this weekend when the VCU Cross Country teams will compete in the A-10 Championship Meet. VCUAthletics.com caught up with head cross country coach Nicole Cook, before the team left for the event in Philadelphia.

VCUAthletics.com: What have you been impressed with throughout the season?
NC: I've been impressed with how tenacious and consistent my runners have been in my absence. This season has been the most consistent season for the team since I took over the cross country program.

VCUAthletics.com: The men's side has a good mix of upperclassmen and underclassmen, how have they blended together to become a solid team?
NC: They have blended well as a solid team because their class doesn't matter to them. They are all concerned with reaching their common team goal and to do better as a whole. The team knows that it can only be accomplished if they are a solid, close team with a common goal that everyone is trying to reach.

VCUAthletics.com: On the women's side you guys are very young, what are some of the improvements you have seen throughout the season from them?
NC: I've seen the women become more consistent and confident in their abilities. Each meet they have gotten better and they have learned to compete harder with their new competition.

VCUAthletics.com: What do you except to see out of the team this weekend?
NC: I expect to see them all go out there and make a statement for VCU. As a new team in the Atlantic 10 no one expects us to do anything. So I expect them to break that assumption and hopefully turn some heads.

VCUAthletics.com: It is a new event for your team on a new course, what are some of the advantages to that, and what are some of the challenges?
NC: A race is a race, no course or track is the same. So the advantage is the thrill of tackling a new cross country course that we've never raced on. The disadvantage is the fact that we are one team that has never experienced this course, but we are anticipating that. In cross country most of the athletes like different courses because it makes it more fun.

VCUAthletics.com: Describe the impact Brenden Leavitt has had on the program the last two seasons?
NC: Brenden Leavitt has been a great runner for VCU over the past two seasons because he has chosen to be a better runner. He focused and developed a confidence in himself that makes him the runner he is today.

VCUAthletics.com: On the men's side you have had a good season, including winning the CNU Invite, what are your goals for them for the weekend?
NC: My goal for them is to be tough and compete with the best the A10 has right now. If they do, they will be a top finisher in the meet.

VCUAthletics.com: The women's team you have a bunch of young runners, and a lot of athletes are running in their first or second championship meet, what advice or strategy have you given to them?
NC: The best advice I can give all my athletes is to lay everything on the line and do their best.

VCUAthletics.com: What are your goals for the women's team going into the weekend?
NC: My goal for the women would be for them to have their best showing than they've had all year, and to compete with heart.

http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mxc/2...1025yjffq4

Cross Country Concludes Season at Atlantic 10 Championship
EVENT: Atlantic 10 Championship (Philadelphia, Pa.)

HOW IT HAPPENED (Men's Race):
The VCU Men's Cross Country team placed 12th in the Atlantic 10 Championship Meet on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Senior Brenden Leavitt led the Rams in the event with a 10th place finish, and ran a 26:05. With his top 15 finish, Leavitt was named an All-Conference runner.

The Rams received a solid performance from sophomore Mohamed Adam, who finished with a 26:39 in 31st place.

Both Leavitt and Adam will represent VCU at the NCAA Regional Meet in North Carolina in two weeks.

Sophomores Khalid Khamis and Samuel Hush finished within seconds of each other. Khamis ran a 27:48 and Hush finished at 27:52.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Women's Race):
The VCU Women's Cross Country finished 16th in the Atlantic 10 Championship Meet on Saturday afternoon.

Freshman Lindsey Bradshaw paced the Rams with a time of 20:51.
The Rams also had strong performances from Erin Geraghty and Niema Eaves who finished with times of 21:07 and 21:43 respectively

QUOTABLE:
"The men's and women's cross country teams competed well and finished strong on one of the toughest courses of the season at the A-10 Championships. [Brenden] Leavitt was rewarded for an impressive senior season with a 10th place finish in a strong field, and made the all conference team."
-Spencer Hawthorne, Assistant Cross Country Coach

http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mxc/2...1027og4g3y

Leavitt Named to All-Atlantic 10 Cross Country Team


RICHMOND, Va. – With his 10th place finish at the Atlantic 10 Championship on Oct. 27, senior Brenden Leavitt, was named to the All-Atlantic 10 Cross Country Team.

Leavitt, who has been one of VCU's best cross country runners over the past two seasons, also qualified for the NCAA Tournament with his time of 26:05.

"I knew that [Leavitt] had potential to be All-Conference because of all his hard work," said Head Cross Country Coach Nicole Cook. All his hard work has paid off and he garnered the All-Conference award and will get to compete in the NCAA Tournament."

The Virginia Beach, Va. native has been one of the Rams top finishers in every meet this season, and has not finished outside of the top-50.

Leavitt will be joined by teammate Mohamed Adam at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships in Charlotte, N.C. on Nov. 9.

Leavitt, Adam Compete in NCAA Southeast Regional


CHARLOTTE, N.C. – VCU Cross Country runners senior Brenden Leavitt and sophomore Mohamed Adam represented VCU in the NCAA Southeast Regional on Friday afternoon. The event was a 10-kilomter race that was held in Charlotte, N.C.

Leavitt, who was an All-Atlantic 10 runner, finished in 81st place out 228 student-athletes, with a time of 31:59. The Chesapeake, Va. native has been one of VCU's most consistent runners over the past two seasons.

Only a few seconds later, Adam crossed the finish line with a time of 32:26 he finished in 102nd place in the regional event.


http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mxc/2...1109vno1bp

FOUR IN-STATE MEETS HIGHLIGHT 2013 CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE


RICHMOND, Va. – The VCU Men's and Women's Cross Country team will hit the ground running five times this during the 2013 season. The schedule is highlighted by four of the five meets taking place in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

VCU opens the season at the Richmond Invitational in Mechanicsville, Va. on Sept. 6, before racing in Richmond in the Virginia Union meet on Sept. 19.

The Black and Gold head to Williamsburg, Va. for the William & Mary Invitational on Sept. 21. The Rams head to Pennsylvania for the Paul Short Invitational hosted by Lehigh University on Oct. 5. VCU concludes the regular season on Oct. 19 at the Christopher Newport Invitational.

The University of Richmond is hosting the 2013 Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championship. The meet will be held at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville, Va. on Nov. 2.

http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/wxc/2...0712aqwo3m

ADAM, MEN’S SQUAD LOOK STRONG AS RAMS OPEN UP SEASON AT SPIDER ALUMNI OPEN


Event: University of Richmond's Spider Alumni Open
Location: Pole Green Park – Mechanicsville, Va.

The Short Story: The VCU cross country squads opened up their fall season at nearby Pole Green Park, the site of the 2013 Atlantic 10 Championships. Fresh off an appearance at last year's NCAA Regionals, Mohamed Adam (sixth overall) led the men's squad to a fourth-place finish. Freshman Ariel Briales led a very young women's squad to a sixth-place finish.

Team Results
Men's Results:
Duquesne (34), Richmond (50), William & Mary (61), VCU (80), George Mason (108), Hampton (190)

Women's Results:
William & Mary (16), Duquesne (57), Richmond (63), George Mason (122), Hampton (155), VCU (166)


http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mxc/2...0908wq3l4z

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MOHAMED ADAM,
RAMS LOOK STRONG IN SECOND-PLACING SHOWING AT CNU INVITE


The Short Story: In its final race before the conference meet, the VCU men's cross country squad looked confident and ready. Overall, the Rams finished second at the CNU XC Invitational, just three points behind perennial cross country power, William & Mary. Junior Mohamed Adam posted his second victory of the fall, blistering the course to the tune of 25:35.7, nearly 10 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor. Classmate Khalid Khamis posted a personal record en route to a third-place finish, clocking in at 25:55.5. Fellow junior Samuel Hush rounded out three Rams in the top-five with a time of 26:03.1.

In addition to the main race, CNU held a non-scored three-kilometer race for middle distance runners. Senor Corey Scott (fifth) and freshman Calvin Wood (eighth) both placed in the top-10 of that event.

Results:
Mohamed Adam – 1st overall – 25:35.7
Khalid Khamis – 3rd overall – 25:55.5 (PR)
Sam Hush – 5th overall – 26:03.1
Zachary Morrow – 13th overall – 26:36.3
Benjamin Sorensen – 14th overall – 26:41.2 (PR)
Austin Lushinski – 20th overall – 27:07.2 (PR)
Matthew Earman – 21st overall – 27:07.7 (PR)


http://www.vcuathletics.com/sports/mxc/2...1020s27549

RAMS SHOW IMPROVEMENTS,
FINISH 10TH AT A-10 CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Short Story:
For the second straight year, the VCU men's cross country team placed 10th at the Atlantic 10 Championships. Junior Mohamed Adam led the way once again, finishing in the top-35 with a time of 24:54.7. Classmates Khalid Khamis and Samuel Hush made huge strides, both clocking PRs and finishing in the top-50. Both runners took over 40 seconds off their time last week. The Rams will be primed to make even more strides next fall as they return their entire roster.

Results:
Mohamed Adam – 34th – 24:54.7
Khalid Khamis – 46th – 25:16.7
Sam Hush – 49th – 25:17.6
Zachary Morrow – 53rd – 25:27.2
Ben Sorensen – 70th – 25:56.6
Matthew Earman – 79th – 26:38.1
Austin Lushinski – 83rd – 26:56.9


YOUTHFUL RAMS COMPETE AT ATLANTIC 10 CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Short Story: Three freshmen led the way for the VCU women's cross country squad at the 2013 Atlantic 10 Championships, hosted by the University of Richmond. Ariel Briales led the way for the fifth time in six races this fall with a time of 18:40.7, good for 53rd overall. A few steps behind Briales was classmate Emily Dyke with a time of 18:43.2. Caitlin McNicholl rounded out the newcomer trio with a time of 19:39.6, good for 75th overall.

Results:
Ariel Briales – 53rd – 18:40.7
Emily Dyke – 54th – 18:43.2
Caitlin McNicholl – 75th – 19:39.6
Brianna Krumholz – 76th – 19:45.6
Erin Geraghty – 78th – 20:12.6
Niema Eaves – 80th – 20:24.0
Riley Loudon – 84th – 21:50.4