Oct. 25, 2007

KENNESAW, Ga. - The Kennesaw State men's cross country team will travel to Nashville, Tenn. to participate in the 2007 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship this weekend at Vaughn's Gap in Percy Warner Park. After weeks of training and two months of competition the entire season has come down to this single 8 kilometer event. The Owls head to the championship with hopes of dethroning conference rival Belmont and gaining KSU's first A-Sun Men's Cross Country Championship.

The Owls (86-12) have fought through a tough season to reach this point. They have faced almost 100 different teams in a combined six races. The team has finished in the top ten at every single meet, including a win at the Mercer-Atlanta Invitational, a second place finish at the Jacksonville Sate Opener and a third place finish at the Disney World Cross Country Classic. Going into the final race of the year the men are prepared to run against an aggressive field of experienced conference rivals.

Sophomore Peikko Solla will be leading the team this weekend as he attempts to conclude his season with a conference championship. The talented native of Finland led the Owls in scoring at four separate meets and ensured a victory at the Mercer-Atlanta Invitational with a second place finish. Teammate Nathan Haskins has also had a break out season, leading the Owls to a second place finish at the Georgia State Invitational. The pair are ready for this weekend as they lead an eager group of runners to conference.

"I'm ready for the race on Saturday," said Solla. "I'm just going to do like Coach Sims says and run with the leaders. Nathan and I can beat them if we work together."

Veterans Michael Johnson, Maxwell Ndungu and Matthew Auers are all expected to have their best runs of the season this weekend. The upper classmen have consistently performed well for the Owls this season, but with the final race approaching they are prepared to come off the line and win a conference title.

"Belmont is a formidable squad," said head coach Stan Sims. "We need our top guys to run up front if we are going to have a chance to win. We can't sit back and wait, we're going to have to go up there take it from them. I'm depending on Nathan and Peikko to lead, but I'm expecting just as much from the rest of the team."

Kennesaw State's best chance of pulling off an upset victory may come from its freshmen. Piotr Witczak, Steven Murray, Adam Williams and Matteo DiCecco have all had break out first seasons with the squad. The outcome of the race may depend on where one of the quartet finishes.

"Our freshmen have had a great week of practice," added Sims. "All of them are healthy and ready to race. If any of them can break into the top ten we stand a good chance of pulling off an upset."

The men's 8k event will begin at 10:00 a.m., and will be followed by the awards ceremony at 11:00 a.m.