Sept. 27, 2002

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Samford men's cross-country finished second in the Great American Cross-Country Festival in Charlotte, N.C. The Bulldogs, competing in the college open division, placed three runners in the top-10. Senior Brett Baddorf finished sixth with a time of 28:24.1 in the 8K event. Samford finished with 53 points, while Harding, one of the top two teams in Division II, won the event with 29 points. Samford's women finished ninth in the women's race. The Bulldogs were paced by freshman Michelle Brewer's 14th-place finish, running the 5K race in 20:42.7.

"The course was very tough," said coach Glenn McWaters. "It was a muddy mess. It was very hilly, but they did well and we had a pretty good day today."

For the men, freshman Andrew Middleton finished directly behind Baddorf in seventh place with a time of 28.35.8. Junior Chad Johnson was eighth overall at 28.36.8.

Freshman Scott Maurer was 15th at 29:08.9. Sophomore Mark Rowe rounded out the Bulldog scorers with a 17th-place finish. Sophomore Bryan Baddorf finished 22nd with a time of 29:23.3, and Freshman Brad Polley was 29th with a 29:42.9.

For the women, freshman Jessica Brewer followed her sister's 14th-place finish with a 21:52.0, for 58th. In 59th was senior Erin Geisa (21:52.5), and in 60th was freshman Jessica Jansen (21:55.1). Suzanne Walker rounded out the Bulldog scorers. The sophomore finished in 63rd-place with a time of 22:02.3. Freshman Connie Heiskell finished 65th with a time of 22:04.5. Junior Brittney Mensen withdrew due to illness.

Sophomore Lauren Floyd, competing in just her second race in two years due to injury, ran unattached and finished 47th in the "B" Division. Floyd's time of 21:40.3 would have placed her second behind Michelle Brewer.

"I am proud of Lauren," McWaters said. "She is getting stronger and will help us a lot in future meets."