Media

(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - The USA South Athletic Conference has announced its Runner, Rookie and Coach of the Year awards for men's and women's cross country. For the women, Mary Baldwin College's Sophia Stone was named Runner of the Year, Shenandoah University's Dorothy Earner earned Rookie of the Year honors while her coach, Andrew Marrocco captured Coach of the Year accolades. On the men's side, Christopher Newport University swept the honors as Runner and Rookie of the Year accolades went to Ray Gamache and Brad Turner, respectfully, while their coach Matthew Barreau was named Coach of the Year. Also, the USA South recognized an All-Sportsmanship Team, consisting of one member from each competing school. All honors were determined by votes from the cross country coach at each institution.

Stone, a sophomore from Pacific Palisades, California, becomes the first Mary Baldwin athlete to earn a USA South Player of the Year honor. She was the top performer in four of the five events she entered this fall. Stone set two school records during the season, one at 5,000 meters and the other at 6,000 meters. She had a season-best time of 21:17 at the 6,000 meter Don Cathcart Invitational hosted by Salisbury University where she placed second out of 144 runners. Additionally, Stone received four USA South Runner of the Week honors this fall.

A freshman from Falls Church, Virginia, Earner played a key role in the Hornets' successful 2011 season. She ran a season-best time of 24:18 at the 5,920 meter Salisbury Invitational, placing 41st out of 139 runners. Earner collected USA South Rookie of the Week honors three times this fall.

Marrocco, currently in his sixth season at the helm of Shenandoah's men's and women's cross country programs, earns women's coach of the year honors for the third consecutive season. The Hornet women are currently ranked tenth in the South/Southeast region and placed first in two events this fall.

Gamache, a junior from Burlington, Vermont, earns runner of the year honors after placing in the top-15 in each of the three races he competed in this fall. His season-best performance was a time of 25:36 at the Don Cathcart Invitational hosted by Salisbury University where he placed 15th out of 162 runners in the 8,000 meter event. Additionally, Gamache was named USA South Runner of the Week three times this season.

A Williamsburg, Virginia freshman, Turner has been an integral part of the Captains squad. His best performance of the season came at the Don Cathcart Invitational hosted by Salisbury University where he posted a time of 27:02 on the 8,000 meter course to finish 41st out of 162 runners. Turner was named USA South Rookie of the Week once this fall.

Barreau is currently in his first season at the helm of Christopher Newport's men's and women's cross country programs. Both the men and women Captains are currently regionally ranked. The Captain men defeated Virginia Wesleyan in a season-opening dual meet while their best performance came at the Don Cathcart Invitational hosted by Salisbury University where the team placed fourth.

The remainder of the both the Men's and Women's All-Conference teams will be decided at the upcoming USA South Championships. On the men's side, the all-conference first team will consist of the top-seven finishers while the second team will consist of finishers eight-14. On the women's side, there will be three all-conference teams. First team all-conference will consist of the top-seven finishers, the next seven finishers will be named second team all-conference while the following seven finishers will earn third team all-conference accolades. The Conference Championship Meet will take place on Saturday, October 29 at Hagan Stone Park in Greensboro, North Carolina. The women will run first at 10:00am, followed by the men at 11:00am.

Women's Runner of the Year	Men's Runner of the Year
Sophia Stone, Mary Baldwin	Ray Gamache, Christopher Newport

Women's Rookie Runner of the Year	Men's Rookie Runner of the Year
Dorothy Earner, Shenandoah	Brad Turner, Christopher Newport

Women's Coach of the Year	Men's Coach of the Year
Andrew Marrocco, Shenandoah	Matthew Barreau, Christopher Newport

Women's All-Conference First Team (Top-7 Finishers at Conference Meet) TBD	Men's All-Conference First Team (Top-7 Finishers at Conference Meet) TBD

Women's All-Conference Second Team (Finishers 8-14 at Conference Meet) TBD	Men's All-Conference Second Team (Finishers 8-14 at Conference Meet) TBD

Women's All-Conference Third Team (Finishers 15-21 at Conference Meet) TBD	Men's All-Sportsmanship Team Jyri Hayrinen - Averett Eric Ginsburg - Christopher Newport Joseph Cudjoe - Ferrum Andre Porter - Greensboro Peter Yuskat - Methodist Jake Garcia - Shenandoah

Women's All-Sportsmanship Team Erika Weyner - Averett Julie Machamer - Christopher Newport Haley Runion - Ferrum Amanda Meinhardt - Greensboro Sophia Stone - Mary Baldwin Lara Pantlin - Meredith Kenesha Bigelow - Methodist Christina Hawes - Peace Emily Hesse - Shenandoah