October 26, 2006
Contact: Mike Christie, 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 31 student-athletes have been named to the USA South All-Conference teams for men's and women's cross country.  Christopher Newport University's Ashley Ezell and Amy Wampler 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 for the second consecutive season and Greensboro College's Francois Theriault 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.

Ezell, a senior from Virginia Beach, Va., was Christopher Newport's top runner this year.  She had a season-best time of 24:09 at the Paul Short Invitational which placed her 43rd out of 172 runners.  She has been named First Team All-USA South four consecutive years.

A freshman from Spotsylvania, Va., Wampler played a key role in the Captains' successful 2006 season.  She ran a season-best time of 24:35 at the Paul Short Invitational where she placed 69th out of 172 runners.  She also was selected to the First-Team All-USA South.

Nasiro-Sigo, a junior from Koffela, Ethiopia, was the Monarchs' top male runner this season and collects his second consecutive runner of the year honor.  His season-best this year was a time of 24:59 at the Hagan-Stone Cross Country Championship where he placed second out of 139 runners. Nasiro-Sigo picked up three individual titles this seasons, winning at the Old North State Championships, the Greensboro Cross Country Invitational and the North Carolina Central Invitational.  He also was selected First-Team All-USA South.

A Quebec City, Que. junior, in his first season of intercollegiate cross country, Theriault has been an integral part of the Greensboro squad.  He ran a personal and season-best time of 27:58 to finish 45th at the Hagan Stone Classic. He also collected First-Team All-Conference honors in his first season running for the Pride.

Women's Runner of the Year                                                                 Men's Runner of the Year
Ashley Ezell, Christopher Newport                                                             Husein Nasiro-Sigo, Methodist

Women's Rookie of the Year                                                                  Men's Rookie of the Year
Amy Wampler, Christopher Newport                                                           Francois Theriault, Greensboro

Women's Coach of the Year                                                                   Men's Coach of the Year
Keith Maurer, Christopher Newport                                                             Keith Maurer, Christopher Newport

The 2006 USA South Women's Cross Country All-Conference Teams follow:

First Team Beth Bartelmes - Christopher Newport Ashley Ezell - Christopher Newport Amanda Fitzhugh - Christopher Newport Jordan Joyce - Greensboro Krystal Patton - Methodist Megan Roberts - Christopher Newport Amy Wampler - Christopher Newport	Second Team Sarah Carruthers - Shenandoah Emily Hetrick - Averett Heather Kochel - Shenandoah Renee Krueger - Shenandoah Niina Marttila - Averett Kristen Melton - Shenandoah Brooke Rowe - Christopher Newport
Honorable Mention Ashley Simms - Peace Kelly Wright - Shenandoah

The 2006 USA South Men's Cross Country All-Conference Teams follow:

First Team Jon Bunker - Christopher Newport Darrell Frick - Shenandoah Nathanial Huffman - Christopher Newport Husein Nasiro-Sigo - Methodist Kyle Oakes - Christopher Newport Daniel Swale - Christopher Newport Francois Theriault - Greensboro	Second Team Daniel Berry - Christopher Newport Casey Bowman - AU Adam Clouse - Methodist Tim Scott - Christopher Newport Johnnie Williams - Greensboro David Woodson - Christopher Newport Zach Yonk - Methodist
Honorable Mention Chase Pattillo - Methodist