Photo Credit: Courtesy of KSUOwls.com
Mason Wittner, Staff Writer
Both of Kennesaw State’s cross country teams traveled to Debary, Fla. Saturday for the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship with the men and women’s teams placing sixth and fourth, respectively.
The women were led by the performances of Kidan Kidane and Katrine Rasmussen as each finished inside the top 15. Kidane finished 11th in the women’s 5K with a time of 18:17.33, earning her second-team-all-conference honors. Rasmussen crossed the finish line at 18:44.92 for 14th and landing her a spot on the A-Sun Conference All-Freshman team.
“The women ran a gusty race,” head coach Joel Pearson said. “Our number five spot just did not put it together today. Kidan and Katrine did a great job up front today. Congratulations to them for achieving Second Team All-Conference.”
In addition to Kidane and Rasmussen, Joyce Mattalingo (22nd), Amanda Cope (33rd) and Sydney Williams (41st) each finished inside the top 50 for the Owls in the 5K.
“With the exception of a couple of girls, I thought the whole women’s team performed very well,” said director of track cross-country Andy Eggerth. “They competed hard, and ran well. When seven of the nine go out there and are really competing and getting after it, I’m pretty pleased with the whole team there.”
The men were headed by three-time A-Sun runner of the week Daniel Garcia.
Garcia led the Owls for the fifth straight meet as he placed second overall with a time of 25:03.00. He was named first-team all-conference and A-Sun Freshman of the Year due to his performance.
“Danny on the men’s side, of course, finished second so that’s great,” said Eggerth. “It was good and he kind of did what he should do – which sometimes we have to be pleased with that to take care of business the way you’re supposed to.”
Along with Garcia, freshmen Dylan Titon and Cameron Gatt each finished the 8K in the top 25 for the Owls. Gatt finished 22nd with a time of 26:07.95, while Titon placed 18th running a 26:07.95, which landed him on the Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team.
“Daniel Garcia led us again today and I am excited for him to be Freshman of the Year and A-Sun runner up,” coach Pearson said. “He has a bright future ahead of him.”
With the A-Sun Conference championships out of the way, the Owls will continue preparation for the championships at the regional level.
“We’ll go to the regional championship in about two weeks, so our men and women will both run there,” said Eggerth. “That gives the opportunity to qualify us for a national championship as a team, which isn’t very likely with where our team is at right now. But individuals can qualify as well and Danny has a good chance of moving on as an individual.”
The next cross country event for KSU will take place on Nov. 14 as the Owls will travel to Tallahassee, Fla. for the Southeast Regional Championships.
