July 31, 2002

The Atlantic Coast Conference 50th Anniversary Women's Cross Country Team was announced today by Commissioner John Swofford. The 50-member team was voted on by the nine league institutions as decided by the league's 50th Anniversary Committee.

NC State led all league schools with 17 members on the Golden Anniversary team while Virginia was second with 10 honorees. Clemson had seven players selected, followed by North Carolina (6), Wake Forest (5), Duke and Georgia Tech with two each and Maryland with one.

NC State has enjoyed much success in the ACC. The 2002 season will mark the 25th annual Women's ACC Championship. In those 25 years, NC State has dominated the field in a league where teams are challenged with high a high level of competition. The Wolfpack Women have built a legacy, winning 16 conference championships since the inception of the ACC.

The women's program at NC State has produced athletes who not only found success at the conference level, but received accolades on a national level as well. The ACC has recognized athletes in the women's program an amazing 84 times for their outstanding performances at the ACC Championships each November with all-conference notices.

NC State has produced nine individual conference champions, including Julie Shea and Betty Springs who took the honor twice. From 1979-1985, NC State won five of six consecutive individual titles, while finishing first in the league four of those years.

NC State's seven consecutive titles stands in the record books as the longest streak in the history of the conference. From 1987-1993, the Wolfpack dominated the course and boasted two individual champions in All-Americans Laurie Henes and Kristen Hall, both of whom were named to the Golden Anniversary team. Henes is currently the associate head coach for the Wolfpack.

In six of the past seven years, Henes and head coach Rollie Geiger have put together teams that have won the ACC Championship.

Members of the team from NC State include:

Joan Benoit, NC State (1978)

All-American in 1977 and 1978 ... All-ACC in 1978 ... Won Boston Marathon in 1979 and 1983 ... Won the Olympic Marathon at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Amy Beykirch, NC State (1997-2000)

Named All-ACC in 1997, 98 and 99 ... Named to the Dean's List all eight semesters ... Won the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and the Marie James Postgraduate Scholarship awarded annually by the ACC ... Earned Academic All-America honors in 1997, 98, 99 and 2000.

Sande Cullinane, NC State (1979-1983)

Member of the 1979 and 1980 AIAW National Championship team ... All-American in 1982 ... Named All-ACC in 1980, 81 and 83.

Laurie Gomez, NC State (1988-1991)

All-American in 1990 and 91 ... 1991 ACC Individual Champion ... Named All-ACC in 1988, 89, 90 and 91 ... Won H.C. Kennett Award (NC State's Outstanding Athlete) in 1991 and 92 ... Women's team MVP in 1990 and 91 ... Winner of the 1992 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship ... Two-time member of the ACC honor roll ... Current assistant coach of the NC State cross country programs.

Kristen Hall, NC State (1993-1996)

Member of the USA Cross Country team in 1996 ... All-American in 1993 ... Won the 1993 ACC Individual Championship ... Named All-ACC in 1993, 95 and 96 ... Team MVP in 1993 and 1995 ... Winner of the 1997 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship ... Four-time member of the Dean's List ... Named to ACC Honor Roll every season.

Renee Harbaough, NC State (1984-1987)

All-American in 1987 ... All-ACC in 1986 and 87 ... Four-time member of the ACC honor roll.

Christy Nichols, NC State (1996-2001)

Earned All-America honors in 1996 and 1999 ... 1999 ACC Individual Champion ... Named All-ACC in 1996, 99 and 2000 ... Was the Women's team MVP in 1996, 1999 and 2000 ... Winner of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and the Marie James Postgraduate Scholarship awarded annually by the ACC ... Was an academic All-American ... Member of the Dean's List and ACC Honor Roll.

Katrina Price, NC State (1988-1991)

All-American in 1988 ... 1989 member of the USA Cross Country squad ... Four-time All-ACC performer ... Two-time member of the ACC Honor Roll.

Kristin Price, NC State (2001)

Helped lead NC State to a second overall finish at the 2001 NCAA Championships ... All-American in 2001 (4th overall at the NCAA Championships) ... Finished 2nd at the District III Championships ... Claimed All-ACC honors with a 7th place finish at the 2001 ACC Championships.

Laura Rhoads, NC State (1996-1998)

All-American and All-ACC in 1996 and 97 ... 1997 women's team MVP.

Connie Jo Robinson, NC State (1982-1985)

All-American and All-ACC in 1982, 83 and 84 ... Women's team MVP in 1982 ... Four-time member of the ACC honor roll.

Katie Sabino, NC State (1998-2001)

All-American in 1999 and 2001 ... Named All-ACC in 1998, 99, 2000 and 01 ... Took academic All-American honors in 2000 ... Four-time member of the Dean's List and ACC Honor Roll.

Julie Shea, NC State (1977-1980)

Earned All-America honors in 1977, 78, 79 and 80 ... Member of the 1979 and 1980 AIAW National Championship squad ... Named AIAW Cross Country Athlete of the Year in 1980 ... Won the AIAW Individual National Championship in 1979 and 1980 ... Member of the USA Cross Country team in 1977, 78, 79 and 80 ... Recipient of the McKelvin Award in 1980 and 81 (ACC's Outstanding Athlete) ... Winner of the 1981 H.C. Kennett Award (NC State's Outstanding Athlete) and the Alumni Athletic Award ... Received the Broderick Award for Cross Country in 1980 ... ACC Individual Champion in 1979 and 1980 ... All-ACC in 1978, 79 and 80 ... Women's team MVP in 1980 ... Member of Raleigh City Counil from 1995-1999.

Mary Shea, NC State (1979-1983)

All-American in 1979 ... Member of the 1979 and 1980 AIAW National Championship squad ... All-ACC in 1979 and 80.

Janet Smith, NC State (1984-1988)

Named All-American in 1984, 85 and 87 ... Member of the USA Cross Country team in 1985 and 1987 ... All-ACC honoree all four seasons ... ACC Individual Champion in 1984 ... Women's team MVP in 1984 ... Two-time member of the All-ACC Honor Roll.

Betty Springs, NC State (1979-1983)

All-American in 1980, 81 and 83 ... NCAA National Champion in 1981 and 83 ... TAC National Champion in 1983 ... Member of the 1979 and 80 AIAW National Championship squad ... Member of the USA Cross Country Team from 1980-85 ... Earned All-ACC honors in 1979, 80, 81 and 83 ... Won the ACC Individual Championship in 1981 and 83 ... Won the H.C. Kennett Award (NC State's Outstanding Athlete) in 1982 and 84 ... Won the Broderick Award for Cross Country in 1981 ... Women's Team MVP in 1981 and 83 ... Wife of current NC State head coach Rollie Geiger.

Suzie Tuffey, NC State (1985-1989)

All-American in 1985, 87 and 88 ... All-ACC honoree in 1985, 87, 88, 89 ... ACC Individual Champion in 1985 ... Women's team MVP in 1985, 87 and 88 ... Received 1985 Broderick Award for Cross Country ... Won the 1989 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship ... Four-time member of the ACC Honor Roll.