October 26, 2005 
Contact: Cory Blackson, Sports Information Director

USA South Cross Country Awards Announced

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its All-Conference awards for men's and women's cross country.  A total of 28 student-athletes have been named to the USA South All-Conference teams for men's or women's cross country.  Christopher Newport University's Emily Low and Liz Bissell were named Runner and Rookie of the Year, respectively, on the women's side.  On the men's side, Methodist College's Husein Nasiro-Sigo has been named Runner of the Year and Christopher Newport's David Woodson has been selected the Rookie of the Year.  Christopher Newport coach Keith Maurer is both the men's and women's Coach of the Year.

Low, a senior from Blacksburg, Va., was Christopher Newport's top runner this year.  She had a season-best time of 22:37 at the Sea Gull Opener at Salisbury State University which placed her third out of 86 runners.  She has been named First Team All-USA South four consecutive years.

A freshman from Wycoff, N.J., Bissell played a key role in the Captains' successful 2005 season.  She ran a season-best 22:30 at Salisbury State's Sea Gull Opener where she placed second out of 86 runners.  She also was selected to the First-Team All-USA South.

Nasiro-Sigo, a sophomore from Koffela, Ethiopia, was the Monarchs' top male runner this season.  His season-best this year was 25:47 at the Mason-Dixon Championship where he picked up his third individual title of the year.  He also was named All-Conference for his efforts at the Mason-Dixon Championship

A Gloucester, Va. freshman, Woodward has been an integral part of the Christopher Newport squad.  He set a personal best at the Paul Short Invitational with a time of 28:02 which placed him 44th out of 336 runners.   He also collected All-Conference honors in his first season running for the Captains.

Women's Runner of the Year                                                                 Men's Runner of the Year
Emily Low - Christopher Newport                                                               Husein Nasiro-Sigo - Methodist

Women's Rookie of the Year                                                                  Men's Rookie of the Year
Liz Bissell - Christopher Newport                                                                David Woodson - Christopher Newport

Women's Coach of the Year                                                                   Men's Coach of the Year
Keith Mauer - Christopher Newport                                                             Keith Mauer - Christopher Newport

The 2005 USA South Women's Cross Country All-Conference Teams follow:

First Team Liz Bissell - Christopher Newport Elizabeth Browning - Christopher Newport Ashley Ezell - Christopher Newport Megan Fogarty - Christopher Newport Heather Kochel - Shenandoah Emily Low - Christopher Newport Bett Shelby - Greensboro

Second Team Jasmin Duncan - Greensboro Amanda Fitzhugh - Christopher Newport Elizabeth Gannon - Shenandoah Emily Hetrick - Averett Krystal Patton - Methodist Ashely Simms - Peace Kayla Thompson - Shenandoah

The 2005 USA South Men's Cross Country All-Conference Teams follow:

First Team David Barhaham - Christopher Newport Mike Barnard - Greensboro Doug Holbrook - Greensboro Husein Nasiro-Sigo - Methodist Tim Scott - Christopher Newport Daniel Swale - Christopher Newport David Woodson - Christopher Newport

Second Team Carl Henn - Shenandoah Jesse Hutcheson - Christopher Newport Nathaniel Huffman - Christopher Newport Tim Lane - Shenandoah Ryan Taylor - Methodist Scott Thompson - Averett Jonnie Williams - Greensboro