July 31, 2007

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Winston-Salem State University head cross country coach Halcyon Blake is all smiles as the summer of 2007 winds down as she prepares to welcome the most talented men's and women's cross country teams in University history back to campus for fall training on August 15, 2007.

As Blake heads into her third year at the head of both the men's and women's cross country teams, she welcomes back a loaded roster on both the men's and women's side of the trail as both squads return to campus three weeks before their first competition on September 8, 2007.

Both teams open the season at the UNC-Pembroke Invitational in Lumberton, NC as the Rams and Lady Rams kick off 2007.  Six days later both WSSU teams travel to Cary, NC to compete in the Adidas Wolfpack Invitational hosted by North Carolina State University.

WSSU hits the middle of their fall slate at the Old Northstate Championships in Pleasanton, NC on September 22 and the Greensboro Invitational on September 29.  Following back-to-back weekends in Pleasanton, NC the Rams and Lady Rams will spend a three-day tour at the Walt Disney World XC Invitational on October 4, 5, and 6 before closing the 2007 at the Erskin XC Invitational in Due West, SC on September 11, 2007.

The Rams return five key returnees in Sadat Kahin, Kenneth Koech, Nathan Summerville, Gerrod Sidbury and Cory Wright. 

Led by seniors Kenneth Koech and Gerrod Sidbury, the Rams will look to compete for a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular-season championship in only their first full year of conference membership.

The Lady Rams roster may be even more loaded as Halcyon Blake welcomes back junior Tomita Ferguson, junior Sandy Harrison and junior Irene Jeptolo. 

Jeptolo, easily the most decorated runner of the trio, and perhaps the greatest cross country runner in WSSU women's cross-country history, will again look to place herself amongst the nation's elite. 

Irene Jeptolo, the most decorated runner in WSSU women's history returns for her junior season in 2007 (Photo by Adrian Ferguson)

The 2005 Southeast Region (Division II) Women's Fall Sport Athlete of the Year is poised to record her third consecutive record-setting season as a member of the Lady Rams' cross-country team in 2007.

"We are all looking forward to the 2007 season.  We are going to have more depth this season as we have a great number of quality runners returning as well as welcoming a great class of freshman.  I am looking for top performances out of the top five runners on each squad and we head into fall training with great excitement and anticipation." Head coach Halcyon Blake commented.

WSSU runners return to campus for fall training on August 15, 2007 and take to the course on September 8, 2007 at the UNC-Pembroke Invitational in season-opening action.

For additional information on WSSU cross country, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at www.WSSURAMS.com.