Men's cross-country team heads to NCAA championship; coach,
senior standout honored

RELEASED: November 20, 2008

The Colonels finished in first place at the regional meet (among 19 schools) with a total of 56 points. Second-place Emory University (ranked 13th in the nation) finished with 73 total points. 

The Colonels were led by overall first-place finisher senior Chase Wilson (Paducah, Ky.). Wilson, the SCAC Runner of the Year, finished first out of 152 runners. Wilson will be honored at a banquet this Friday evening in Hanover before the meet on Saturday.

The Colonels also placed three more runners in the top 11. Senior Joey Polio (Owensboro, Ky.), first-year student Willie Polio (Owensboro, Ky.) and junior Jason Parks (Louisville) finished 9th, 10th and 11th, respectively. 

Every runner to finish 35th or higher is named to the NCAA All-Region team. Joining Wilson, Joey Polio, Willie Polio and Parks as NCAA All-Region runners is sophomore Clinton Cahell (Georgetown, Ohio).

UPDATE
On Nov. 19, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCAA) announced that Wilson was named the South/Southeast Regional Runner of the Year. This is a first-time honor by any Centre cross-country runner. Also, Coach Owens was named the South/Southeast Men's Cross-Country Coach of the Year. This is her third time receiving the honor; she also received the honor in 2005 and 2006. Both Chase and Owens will be recognized for these awards at the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championships Banquet held Nov. 20 in Hanover.

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