Duke\'s Hatch Concludes Senior Season

Duke senior cross-country athlete Michael Hatch, a 2001 graduate of JL Mann High School concluded his last season as a Blue Devil with a top three finish at the IC4A Cross Country Championships at Van Cortland Park in Bronx, NY Saturday.

Hatch covered the five-mile course in 25:01, earning All-East accolades and leading the men to a 14th overall team finish.

In Hatch's junior high school season as a Patriot he captured the 3A State Cross Country title in 15:57 in Columbia at Fort Jackson.

Angelina Blackmon, a freshman at NC State placed 208th at the National Championships in 23:03.

Blackmon, a 2004 graduate of Northwestern High School rounded out the top 15 in the women's 6,000-meter run for NC State at the NCAA Southeast Regionals in Lake Kristi, NC.

Clemson Senior Derrick Wyatt brought home a 130th-place finish and time of 32:54.2 at the D-I Nationals. During Wyatt's high school campaign at Liberty the former Red Devil captured 10 state track titles with a 800-meter best of 1:53 and a 1600-meter best of 4:16.09. Wyatt, a three-time high school cross-country state championship has a high school 5k best of 15:00.

During Blackmon's senior year at Northwestern, the former Trojan qualified for Footlocker Nationals (2nd, South Regionals), joining Kate Niehaus on the trip to California. Blackmon holds the fastest 1600-meter time for the 2004 track and field season of 5:02.92 in South Carolina along with holding the second fastest 3200-meter time of 10:52.61. As an eighth grader Blackmon captured the 4A state cross country championship title.

Jennifer Hitt of Anderson College finished 135th in the 188-runner field at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships Saturday afternoon at the University of Southern Indiana cross country course.

Hitt, a freshman from Fountain Inn, S.C., and graduate of Hillcrest High School recorded a time of 24:58 in the 6K event.

Hitt finished fourth in the 6K meet with a time of 23:01, 20 seconds behind meet winner Margaux Cowan-Banker of Carson-Newman at the NCAA Southeastern Regional on Nov. 6.

Hitt captured the individual title at the CVAC Women's Cross Country Championship for Anderson College as a freshman. Hitt was named CVAC Freshman of the Year and Runner of the Year. Hitt led the Trojans to a third place team finish with a 19:35 5,000-meter time, the only female runner to break the 20-minute barrier.

Hitt has a high school cross-country database personal best of 19:05.44, set at the 2003 Coaches Classic on Sept. 13. Hitt also set a personal record of 5:29.43 at the 2003 State Championships.

Senior Harding Bison Reid Fisher, an Irmo High alumnus finished 20th at the NCAA D-II National Championships Saturday, earning All-American honors, the second of his collegiate career. Fisher covered the 10k course in 32:53. Riverside graduate Vicky Echeverria, a sophomore at Harding placed 87th overall in the women's 6k national competition.

Mars Hill's Kate Prichard placed 134th (25:23) and Ashley McCauley (Greenville, SC) placed 156th (26:33) at the D-II Nationals for the Lions. Prichard attended Daniel High School in Six Mile and McCauley attended Greenville High.

John Olson, scrunners.com site administrator will be onsite at the Footlocker South starting Friday morning through Saturday along with college site administrator Heather Koziel, a 2004 graduate of Northwestern High School in Charlotte.

Lydiard Coming To Charlotte Saturday

The ZAP Fitness Foundation and the Charlotte Running Company are pleased to present the Arthur Lydiard - "Coach of the Century" Lecture Tour. Lydiard of New Zealand, voted as the Coach of the Century by Runner's World, is returning to the US this fall for one last lecture tour. This is the final opportunity to meet with the legend in person. Coach Lydiard's lecture will also serve as a fundraiser for the ZAP Fitness Foundation (www.zapfitness.com). The ZAP Fitness Foundation is a nonprofit organization developed to provide an opportunity for post collegiate distance runners to fully develop their athletic potential. To accomplish this we will educate, test, coach, counsel, train, house and feed the athletes. Our program will give them a chance to focus their energy on their training and live a life style that is best suited to their needs. Online Registration is $10 plus applicable online processing fees. Registration at the door is $17. Guaranteed seating is limited to the first 100 registrants, so please register early to avoid dissapointment!

For more information visit: www.charlotterunning.com.