Oct. 2, 2009

CARY, NC - The Winston-Salem State University Cross Country teams will be back in action this weekend when the teams take part in the 2009 Great American Cross Country Festival. After being held in Hoover, Alabama for the last three years, the event will make its triumphant return to Cary, North Carolina this season. The event will feature over 2,000 athletes from high school and collegiate levels, schools, including a number of Atlantic Coast Conference teams as well as a number of historically black college and university teams.

On Friday, the festival will include the AT&T Race of Champions, which will include college and university teams competing for honors, while Saturday will feature the inaugural Robert Shumake Historically Black College & University Challenge. High school and community races will also take place on Saturday morning.

The event will be a return of sorts for WSSU freshman Andrew Chebii who finished fifth at the WakeMed Soccer Park where he finished fifth at the 2009 Reebok Wolfpack Invitational. He posted a 14:52.00 in the 5K event, but will competing in an 8K run this weekend. Lady Ram freshman Tyrah Winfrey will also look for another great effort, finishing 34th overall and placing 16th among scoring runners in the women's 5K with a 20:56.00.

For more information on Rams and Lady Rams cross country, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2909 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.