Oct. 16, 2009

Blue Ridge Open - Men's Gold Results
Blue Ridge Open - Men's Open Results
Blue Ridge Open - Women's Gold Results

BOONE, N.C. - The men's team ran two squads at the Blue Ridge Open on Saturday at the Appalachian State Farm Fields, while the women's team sent three representatives to compete in the Gold Division. In the men's Gold Division, Wake Forest finished fifth of 19 teams, and the men's group in the open event placed second of six squads.

The men's first unit had a strong outing, finishing in the top third of the teams. Freshman Garret Drogosch and redshirt senior Jeremy Fisico finished first and second again for the Deacons. Drogosch completed the 8-kilometer course in 25:47.91, while Fisico crossed the finish in 25:53.31.

Sophomore Paul Loeser was third with a time of 26:07.01. Freshmen Sam Foster and Devin Huizenga and redshirt junior Keaton Morgan all finished under 27 minutes. Foster was 55th overall, Huizenga 70th and Morgan 81st. Freshman Howard Graves rounded out the Deacon contingent in the Gold Race with a time of 27:10.24 and 91st-overall place.

Although Wake Forest did not field a complete team in the women's event, junior Cate Berenato, freshman Kristen Buchan and sophomore Katy Swain competed individually in the women's 5K Gold Race.

Berenato was 43rd overall with a time of 19:17.36. In 79th and 80th overall, Buchan and Swain finished within a half second of each other with times of 19:59.23 and 19:59.71.

The Wake Forest men also fielded a team in the open race. Freshman Jake Graham was first on the squad that finished second of six teams. In a strong Wake Forest team performance, Graham was sixth overall with a time of 27:01.36. Freshman Tom Finneran was not far behind with a time of 27:24.81 and 13th-overall place. In 16th, sophomore Ben Morrow finished in 27:29.86. Freshman Will Ficklen was 25th with a time of 27:55.36 and freshman Austin Jones was 32nd with 28:23.04.

The next action for the men's team is on Saturday, Oct. 31, when it looks to improve on its 11th-place finish at the ACC Championships last year.

The women's team is coming off a third-place finish at the ACC Championships last year, when Anna Nosenko was named ACC Freshman of the Year. Before the ACCs this season on Oct. 31, a group from the women's team will race on Saturday at the Indiana State Pre-Nationals against 18 of the top 30 teams in the nation. Please check WakeForestSports.com for the complete results.

Women's Gold Race
43. Cate Berenato, 19:17.36
79. Kristen Buchan, 19:59.23
80. Katy Swain, 19:59.71

Men's Gold Race
20. Garret Drogosch, 25:47.91
26. Jeremy Fisico, 25:53.31
34. Paul Loeser, 26:07.01
55. Sam Foster, 26:23.09
70. Devin Huizenga, 26:40.80
81. Keaton Morgan, 26:56.11
91. Howard Graves, 27.10.24

Men's Open Race
6. Jake Graham, 27:01.36
13. Tom Finneran, 27:24.81
16. Ben Morrow, 27:29.86
25. Will Ficklen, 27:55.36
32. Austin Jones, 28:23.04

Men's Gold Race - Team Results
1. High Point, 76
2. Davidson, 77
3. Appalachian State, 83
4. Coastal Carolina, 159
5. Wake Forest, 166
6. Virginia Military 180
7. Clemson, 206
8. Elon, 212
9. Western Carolina, 235
10. College of Charleston, 286
11. UNC Wilmington, 295
12. Mars Hill College, 311
13. Morehead State, 321
14. UNC Asheville, 336
15. Lees-McRae College, 370
16. Appalachian State Alumni, 402
17. Gardner-Webb, 506
18. UNC Greensboro, 540
19. Radford, 549

Men's Open Race - Team Results
1. Lynchburg, 36
2. Wake Forest, 72
2. Longwood, 72
4. Spartanburg Methodist, 96
5. Montreat, 106
6. Elon, 107