North Carolina Central University

CROSS COUNTRY

     CARY, NC - The North Carolina Central University men's cross country team etched its name in the history books Thursday by capturing the school's first conference championship in cross country, defeating seven-time defending champions Saint Augustine's College by the narrowest margin in league history, 35-36, at the 2004 CIAA Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships at SAS Soccer Park in Cary, NC.
     NCCU freshman Yolanda Barber claimed the women's individual conference title by finishing the 5k course in 19:43.40. Barber's championship performance followed by a fourth place effort by Aisha Brown (20:40.20) powered the Lady Eagles to a third place team finish.
     Five Eagles placed in the top 10 of the 8k race with sophomore transfer Eric Speer leading the way in fourth place with a time of 25:46.81. Freshman Rashaad Lee was close behind with a time of 26:11.94 for fifth place. Sophomore Joseph Estevez took seventh (26:44.27), freshman John Austin placed ninth (26:52.09), and freshman Robert Curington held on to 10th (26:55.80). 
     Although not pointing for NCCU, junior Jean-Pierre Joubert finished in 12th place (27:00.83), ahead of St. Augustine's fifth runner to give the Falcons an extra point.
     NCCU is the first team to defeat St. Augustine's for the CIAA men's cross country championship since Norfolk State won the crown in 1996.
     Last year at the CIAA Championships, NCCU lost to SAC by three points, 30-33, in the closest men's team finish in CIAA cross country history ... until this year.

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