Kennesaw State Cross Country: Foundational Dominance

Kennesaw State Cross Country : Foundational Dominance

1992 -The Beginning

Dave Morgan is appointed as the head coach of the men’s and women’s teams, as the sport is reborn for the purpose of qualifying for Division II of the NAIA. Math professor Stan Sims is appointed his assistant. Marica Merck and April Satterfield qualify for the NAIA National meet.

1994 - The Beginning of the Stan Sims Era and the First of Many Peach Belt Titles

Both the men and women win Peach Belt Conference championships. The men post a perfect score (15), placing their seven runners in the top nine. Peter Mutheki wins the individual championship. The women finish runner-up to Armstrong State (44-58), as Melissa Clay finishes second in the race. Tata Solomon is named All-Conference, to become the first athlete in school history to be All-League in two different sports (basketball). The men went on to win the NCAA Southeast Region title and end 15th at the National meet.

1995 Season - Another Peach Belt Sweep for KSU

The men and women repeat as Peach Belt Conference champions. Ambrose Kimitei (men's) and Catherine Kilat (women's) are the Peach Belt individual champions. The women's team places 15th and the men secure 16th at the NCAA National Championship

1996 Season - Another Sweep!

Both teams are Peach Belt Conference champions for the third-consecutive season. Ambrose Kimitei (men's) and Molly McKennedy (women's) take home Peach Belt individual titles. The women grab 15th while the men take home 17th at the NCAA National Meet.

1997 Season - Another Sweep and the First All-American

The Owls won both Peach Belt titles for the fourth-consecutive season. Ambrose Kimitei becomes the first runner in Peach Belt history to capture the men's individual title in consecutive seasons. Jaydene Moralee wins the NAIA South Regional and becomes the program's first All-American. The men place 17th at the National Championships.

1998 Season - Five in a Row!

Both teams become Peach Belt Conference champions for the fifth straight time, with Edwin Bii (men's) and Tiina Manninen (women's) maintaining the Owls' dominance of the individual titles. The women had six runners named All-PBC - three of whom are freshmen from Finland - in addition to winning their second-consecutive region championship and provide the best finish in program history, grabbing 10th place in the NCAA National Championships.

Oct. 23, 1999 - A Sixth-Consecutive Sweep

The Owls claim their sixth sweep of the Peach Belt Conference Championships. Finnish freshmen Marjo Venalainen and her husband Yari win their respective Peach Belt Conference races, with Marjo racing to both the Region and National championships.

2000 - Marjo Repeats as National Champion

Marjo Venalainen repeats as conference, region and NCAA National champion.

2001 - A Men's Peach Belt Title and Marjo All-American

Marjo Venalainen three-peats as PBC and region champion. She finishes just seven seconds short of the national championship, finishing second and becomes a three-time All-American. The men win their seventh title, led by Gediminus Banevicius, and finish second in the region. Jari Venalainen, Greg Mason and Landon Taylor help the team to a 14th-place finish in the NCAA Nationals.

2002 - Another Peach Belt Sweep

Both teams win the Peach Belt Conference championship, as Irina Watkins is the top women's runner. Marjo Venalainen returns to help the team qualify for the Nationals and fights through pain to be named a four-time All-American. KSU finishes eighth in the NCAA Championships. All-American Joseph Mutai leads the men to the NCAA’s, where the team places 13th.

2003 -KSU Men Win Ninth Peach Belt Title

The men post the second-lowest score (20) in Peach Belt Conference history and win their ninth title, led by PBC champion Joseph Mutai. Mutai repeats as All-American, and with help from Francis Korir, Greg Mason, Landon Taylor, Jason Waters and Lukasz Skrzypiec, sees the Owls finish ninth in the NCAA Nationals.

2004 - One Last Peach Belt Sweep

Both teams win the Peach Belt Conference championships during the school’s last year in Division II. Joseph Mutai repeats as the men’s champion and although the Owls are edged for the region title, the team advances to the National Championships finishing 10th. Landon Taylor and Jason Waters are All-American selections. Patrina Hayes helps the women to their ninth PBC crown in 11 years and makes the All-American squad. The women finish fifth at the Division II National Championships.

2005 - First ASUN Title for the Women

With a four-year transition to Division I, ineligibility for NCAA post-season meets and membership in the Atlantic Sun Conference - the women take their first ASUN title. Patrina Hayes, Erin Sutton, and Magdalena Polko are named All-ASUN.

2009 - KSU Men Secure First ASUN Title

The men win the Atlantic Sun Conference title by 42 points over East Tennessee State and finish eighth at the NCAA South Regional Meet in the KSU's first year of eligibility for the event. Mykenzie Howe qualifies as an individual on the women's side for regionals.

2009 KSU Men's XC Team

2010 - The Second-Consecutive Men's ASUN Title

The men repeat as ASUN Conference champions in only their sixth year of D1 cross country.

2010 - Howe Makes History

Mackenzie Howe becomes the school’s first-ever Division I Atlantic Sun Champion as she leads a freshman-laden women’s squad. The four-time All-ASUN pick runs in her second NCAA Regional race and qualifies for the National Championships.

Sep. 1, 2011 - Stan Sims Announces Retirement

Stan Sims announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2011 XC season. Since taking over the Owls cross country program in 1994, Sims led his squads to a total of 22 conference championships, including three Atlantic Sun Conference titles since the Owls transitioned to Division I prior to the 2005 season.

Stan Sims and Don McGarey

October 8, 2011 - Nabil Hamid Makes KSU XC D1 History

Nabil Hamid finishes 87th at the NCAA National Championships in a time of 30:41.80. He is the lone man from KSU to have ever competed in the NCAA National Championships in cross country.