CONYERS, Ga. - A year after winning its first-ever SCAC men's cross country championship, Centre College is back to defend that title as the conference gathers at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, Ga., this Saturday for the 2009 championship meet. Course map  | Men's Week 8 Cross Country Report 

The 8K men's race will begin at 9 a.m. ET, followed by the women's 6K race at 10 a.m. ET.

Behind a 1-2 finish by Chase Wilson and Jason Parks, Centre (pictured right) finished with 38 points at the 2008 meet - 34 points ahead of second-place and 2007 SCAC team champion Colorado College. Colorado had 72 points, three points clear of DePauw University.

Nine members of last season's all-conference team return, led by Colorado College's three. Tiger sophomore Jackson Brainerd, who last season finished seventh overall, leads Colorado College. Teammates also joining him in 2009 include juniors Andrew Wagner and Daniel Kraft.

Pacing the way for the defending conference champion Centre Colonels is senior Jason Parks (pictured left). Parks finished second overall in 2008, 14 seconds off the winning mark. Also joining him is sophomore teammate Willie Polio.

For the DePauw Tigers, the lone all-conference honoree coming back this year is senior Zack Weinberg. Weinberg posted a top-five finish at last year's championship by tallying a 26:04 8K.

Meet host Oglethorpe University returns senior Enrique Sanchez, who last year became the school's first All-SCAC runner since Brett Cave earned that honor in 1996.

Rounding out the list of returning all-conference runners are two from Trinity. The Tigers return both seniors in Bryant Wright (third in 2008/25:56) and Chass Armstrong (fourth in 2008/26:01).


For complete coverage of the 2009 SCAC Men's Cross Country Championships, click to the official website of the event.