ETTRICK, Va. (September 20, 2008) – The Lincoln University of Pennsylvania men's cross-country team had two runners finish in the top five as it won the Virginia State meet Saturday afternoon. The Lions finished ahead of four schools by edging host Virginia State, 45-46. (MEET RESULTS TO BE POSTED LATER)
Lincoln sophomore physical education major Tarem “Gecko” Cannonier (Greenberg, NY/Woodland) and sophomore health science major Vincent “Blizzard” Thomas (Columbia, PA/Columbia) finished in the top five. Overall, seven of Lincoln's eight runners placed in the top 20. The other schools competing in the meet were Shaw (56 points), Barton College and Virginia Union.
“This was a team victory,” Cannonier said. “Our goal coming into the meet was to run as a pack and stay with each other. We just wanted to come here and do our best. We are pretty excited about this victory.”
Of course, team members thought cross-country coach Cyrus D. Jones was joking when he told his team he felt they had an outstanding chance to win the meet after watching his team perform.
“We thought coach was playing or trying to be funny,” Thomas said. “When the results were announced, we looked at each other, smiled and clapped our hands. Everybody was pretty much smiling.”
They had good reason as Lincoln competed in its first meet outside of a 100-mile radius of Lincoln since 1979 according to Jones. The Lions cross-country program usually serves as a tune-up for track season, but for one memorable afternoon, the Lions served noticed to the CIAA that they will be a force to be reckoned with.
Lincoln's top 20 finishers included Diedre Mcloud (10th), William Andrews (12th), Nuradyin King (14th), Len'l Russell (Clairton, PA/Clairton) (16th) and Todd Mason (San Diego, CA/Edgewood High) (17th). Alex Wright (Brooklyn, NY/John Dewey) finished 23rd and that finish helped Lincoln in the close race against the host Trojans.
“We were confused by the course at first even though they gave us a walk-through,” Thomas said. “That's when we decided that if we stick together as a team then we will be successful.”
Lincoln returns to action next Saturday morning when it will compete in the Belmont Classic meet in Philadelphia.
“This was certainly worth the trip down here,” Jones said. “The guys ran today like this was there last race. I am certainly proud of them, but we can't be too jubilant because we still have some more races this year. But I definitely believe the other schools took notice of Lincoln.”
--LU--
