Heineking Remains Undefeated, Wins ACC Championship

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CARY, N.C. – Behind a first-place finish by junior All-American Emil Heineking, the Virginia men’s cross country team finished runner-up to NC State, while the women finished third, at the 2009 Atlantic Coast Conference Cross Country Championships on a misty Saturday morning at the WakeMed Soccer Park.

Heineking, who had a comfortable lead the majority race, fought off a late effort by a Florida State runner and teammate Ryan Collins, before reestablished his lead in the final stretch to remain undefeated this season, completing the course in 23:15.49. Heineking’s finish brought Virginia its second-consecutive individual conference championship, while Collins finished runner-up in 23:17.74. Junior Trey Miller claimed 15th in 23:58.23, freshman Sintayehu Taye finished 25th in 24:19.46 and junior Graham Tribble rounded out the scoring with a 28th-place finish and a time of 24:31.67.

On the women’s side, junior Catherine White earned All-ACC honors with a runner-up finish in 19:55.9. Sophomore Morgane Gay battled to follow White, but Florida State’s Pilar McShine edged Gay by .2 seconds, with Gay finishing fourth in 20:06.6, earning All-ACC honors. Senior Lauretta Dezubay and junior Stephanie Garcia crossed close together, with Dezubay taking 17th in 20:49.6 and Garcia claiming 18th in 20:53.4. Sophomore Laurel MacMillan rounded out the scoring Cavaliers with a 47th-place finish in 21:58.5.

NC State won the men’s title with 56 points, while Virginia finished second with 71. Florida State took third with 72 points.

On the women’s side, Susan Kuijken defended her individual title for Florida State, leading the Seminoles to the team championship with 37 points. Duke finished runner-up with 71 points and Virginia rounded out the top-three with 84 points.

The Cavaliers will return to action on Friday, hosting the Cavalier Invitational at Panorama Farms. Races are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.