September 26, 2006
CONTACT: Van Zanic
Sports Information Director
(724) 847-6886
Koutsourais Tabbed NCCAA National Runner of the Week
Beaver Falls, PA - It has already been a banner season for senior cross country runner Dee Koutsourais (Reading, PA). In the spring, she qualifed for the NAIA national track and field meet in the marathon. Koutsourais has now led Geneva′s women′s cross country team to a national ranking.
This past weekend, Koutsourais finished second overall at the St. Vincent College Cross Country Invitational. In doing so, she helped Geneva gain first place in a field of 13 schools. Running the 5K course, Koutsourais finished with a time of 20:04 to pace her Golden Tornado teammates.
For her efforts at St. Vincent, Koutsourais was named the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) national runner of the week. Koutsourais, who was competing for the first time in two weeks, took a week off to recover from competing at the IKEA Montour ½ marathon. Along with teammate, Beth Bartolomeo, the Geneva pair has already qualified for the 2007 NAIA track and field meet in Louisville, KY.
"Dee has developed into a tremendous leader on our team," said head coach Bret Otte. "She is a tireless worker and has continually improved with each practice and each competition." Geneva′s team is now a position to possibly qualify for the NAIA national meet in November.
Coming into the week, Geneva′s women were ranked 27th in the NAIA poll. The Golden Tornadoes have been ranked as high as 21st this fall.
After a week off, the Golden Tornadoes will host their only home meet of the season. On October 7th, Geneva will play host to the Plaid Invitational at its home course of Fisher′s of Boys Camp in Darlington, PA.
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