CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Both Queens University of Charlotte's women's and men's cross country teams will attempt to defend their Conference Carolinas titles when the Royals host the Conference Carolinas Championships at McAlpine Creek Park Friday afternoon. The women's 5,000-meter race kicks off at 4:00pm, while the men's 8,000-meters starts at 5:00pm.
The Royals' women's team, ranked 22nd in the nation in NCAA DII, will count on both returners from last year's championship team as well as some significant newcomers. Senior Jessica Neville (Cold Spring, N.Y., Haldane) and junior Holly Annas (Granite Falls, N.C., South Caldwell) will be joined by 2009 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, Maraya Slatter (Benson, N.C., West Johnston). The trio was essential in pulling off the upset in 2009 to give Queens its first conference title in the sport. Adding strength and depth to the veterans will be Kimone Hewitt (Orange County, Calif., Segerstram High School), the Royals' top finisher for every regular season meet, along with Rosa Young (Spartanburg, South Carolina, Dorman Roebuck High School), Emilia Skolobowicz (Mystoice, Poland, Mystoice High School), Mathilde Timboni and Kaitlyn Patterson (Forsyth, Georgia, Mary Persons High School).
While it seems that the men's squad couldn't get any stronger after posting a perfect score and sweeping the top six spots last year, the Royals, now ranked 7th in the NCAA, look even better. Queens brings back a healthy Michael Crouch (Yucca Valley, Calif., Yucca Valley), who has notched two NCAA national titles on the track. The 2009 Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year, Alexander Schilling (Dresden, Germany, Sportgymnasium ) returns, bolstered by returners Simon Stuetzel (Meinborn, Germany) and Nelson Mwangi (Kenya, Nairobi School), along with newcomers Colin Guillard (Pommerieux, France, Louis Cormontaigne Metz France) and Felix Duchampt.
FlashResults will be providing chip timing to the championships and will also offer free updates via SMS texting on cell phones. To track either individuals or teams during the championship whenever competitors cross split mats, sign up at www.flashresults.com/smstracker
