Rome, GA - even without their two big guns, Joseph Mutai and Landon Taylor, the Owls were step for step with host Berry College for the better part of Friday night's meet, but fell just twelve points short of winning the 39th Annual Georgia Collegiate Championships.

The Owls (14-1, 36-9 overall) placed a trio of runners in the top eight finishers. Piotr Kaszkur-25:35.48 (3rd), Jason Waters-25:43.02 (4th), Lukasz Skrypiec-26:21.36 (8th) led the Kennesaw State surge as the black and gold were just one point behind the Vikings. However, Berry pulled away as their final two racers finished in 9th and 14th place. The final two KSU runners finished in 11th and 23rd positions.

Kennesaw State ran without Taylor while Mutai, who has been wrestling with a chronically sore back for the better part of the season, finished in a distant 45th place.

"We ran a very good race considering Joseph wasn't all out and Landon didn't race at all," said head coach Stan Simms."The rest of the team picked it up and raced well."

Kennedy Kitur (26:29.34) and Albert Mokaya (27:16.41) finished out the scoring for the Owls. Alfonce Chelimo (69th), Shane Walsh (73rd) and Kip Sweeney (79) finished out the roster for KSU.

Team Results

1. Berry (37)
2. Kennesaw State (49)
3. West Georgia (70)
4. Clayton State (106)
5. Morehouse (141)
6. Valdosta State (160)
7. Emory (195)
8. SCAD (236)
9. Georgia State (240)
10. Reinhardt (246)
11. North Georgia (277)
12. Mercer (299)
13. Covenant (352)
14. La Grange (424)
15. Piedmont (473)
16. Oglethorpe (478)

Kennesaw State Individual Results

3 Piotr Kaszkur 25:35.48
4 Jason Waters 25:43.02
8 Lukasz Skrzypiec 26:21.36
11 Kennedy Kitur 26:29.34
23 Albert Mokaya 27:16 41
45 Joseph Mutai 28:27.02
69 Alfonce Chelimo 29:17.32
73 Shane Walsh 29:30.48
Kip Sweeney 30:01.01.