Jan. 13, 2010

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - The 2009 recruiting class was hailed as one of the top incoming classes in school history and the Lady Ram delivered on the great potential that they showed in high school and in the preseason. With the infusion of top young talent, the Lady Rams cross country team went on to have a great 2009 effort with a number of great finishes.

The Lady Rams had some great team efforts in 2009. The team finished fourth at the 2009 UNC-Pembroke Invitational with 107 total points and finished third at the 2009 Salem College Invitational where they amassed 91 points. One of the most impressive team performances of the season came at the Wolfpack Invitational where the team placed fourth with 123 points. Only Maryland, North Carolina State, and North Carolina A&T finished with more impressive team performances at the meet.

Freshman Tyrah Winfrey wasted little time and made an immediate impact on the Lady Rams' team as she led the way in every meet of the season. She opened the season with a 10th place finish at the UNC-Pembroke Invitational where she posted a 25:29.22 at the event. Her best finish of the season came at the 2009 Salem College Invitational when she won the 5K event with a 21:57.7 in the event. She saved one of her best performances of the season for the biggest stage as she posted a 5K personal record 20:26 at the 2009 Race of Champions at the American Cross Country Festival. She placed 56th at the event running against some of the top NCAA Division I runners on the east coast.

Fellow freshman Manuela Rigaud was also a top performer for the Lady Rams as she consistently posted one of the top three times for the team all season long. Her best effort of the season came at the 2009 Greensboro Invitational where she placed 34th at the event. She finished with a 21:30.6 at the 5K event and finished second among WSSU runners.

Though the freshman led the way, there were some great performances by the WSSU upperclassmen. Sophomore Ashley Lawson had a great season with some fantastic times and finishes in 2009 as well. Her best placing of the season came at the 2009 Salem College Invitational where she finished 14th at the 5K event with a 23:18.3. The time was also her best of the season as well.

The good news for the Lady Rams team is that they will all return next season as the team had no seniors. For more information on Lady Rams cross country, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2909 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.