North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State Cross Country's History of Success
8/7/2008 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
All it takes is a quick glance in the trophy case and a look down the hallway outside of the NC State cross country coaches' offices to see the success that the NC State cross country program has achieved over the years. A deeper look behind the scenes will reveal the hard work, determination and competitive spirit it has taken to get there. To quantify the magnificence of the program, consider these numbers: two national championships, five individual national titles, and an astounding 33 Atlantic Coast Conference championships ... all this while accruing at least one All-American in 27 of the last 30 years. During the 2001 campaign, NC State boasted five All-Americans on its roster.
The Wolfpack was recognized as the best in the nation by The Cross Country Journal in 1987, when the men and women attained the highest ever combined finishes in the NCAA Cham-pionships at the time.
In 1991, NC State became the first school in ACC history to sweep the conference championships, with the men and women winning the conference title in the same year. The Pack now has won dual conference championships nine times in 16 years, including four times in a row at one point. Traditionally, the women’s team has attained the most success, but in the last two decades the men have risen to an equal level of national prominence.
The NC State Women
NC State’s tradition of athletic excellence began in 1977 when Joan Benoit and Julie Shea became the first Wolfpack runners to earn All-America honors. In 1978, the Wolfpack finished second at the AIAW National Cross Country Championships. Shea was edged out by Colorado’s Mary Decker for the individual crown, but earned All-America honors along with Benoit. That same season the NC State women won the inaugural ACC women’s cross country championship.
Shea and Benoit were the first two of a total 37 All-Americans produced by NC State’s women’s program.
Shea won the individual national championship in 1979 and led the Wolfpack to the first of two consecutive national team cham-pionships. Shea repeated as individual national champion in 1980, and sophomore Betty Springs finished second as the Wolfpack successfully defended its national title.
After Shea graduated, Springs continued the Wolfpack’s championship tradition, becoming the first NCAA women’s champion in 1981, despite running on a stress fracture. Two years later, Springs repeated as NCAA champion and also won the TAC cross country crown. During her career, she represented the United States in six World Cross Country Championships.
The Wolfpack produced its third individual national champion in 1985, when Suzie Tuffey became the first freshman ever to win the individual cross country championship. Tuffey’s victory gave NC State five individual national champions in nine years.
The tradition continued in the 1990s. Earning All-America honors as a junior and senior, Laurie Gomez-Henes won the ACC individual championship in 1991 and placed fourth at the NCAA meet. She was also a finalist for the Honda Sports Award for cross country. On the track, she won the 1991 NCAA outdoor championship in the 5,000 meters.
The tradition of success continued in 1993, when Kristen Hall led the Wolfpack to a ninth-place overall finish at the NCAA and became NC State's 12th All-American with her 17th-place finish.
In 1996, Laura Rhoads and Christy Nichols each earned All-America honors, and Rhoads became a two-time All-American the following year.
The NC State women won the ACC championship in 1997 and duplicated that feat in 1998, their fourth consecutive league title, and had four all-conference runners in the process.
In 1999, Christy Nichols captured All-America honors again, returning to competition after missing nearly two years due to injury. Nichols and fellow All-American Katie Sabino led the Wolfpack to a tie for 19th place at the NCAA Championships.
The 2000 NC State women’s cross country team recaptured its ACC title, defending its home turf at the University Club in Raleigh.
In 2001, the NC State women maintained their high standards and rolled through the postseason with wins at the ACC Championships and NCAA District III Championships, then placed second at the NCAA Championships behind a strong team from Brigham Young.
The 2002 season was highlighted by a split-conference championship. For the first time in the history of the league, two teams tied for the team honor, and in this season the Wolfpack shared the crown with Wake Forest.
In 2003, the Wolfpack landed three runners on the All-ACC list as the team finished in second place at the conference championships. The women’s squad finished strong, ending the season with a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, marking the 11th time that the Wolfpack finished in the top 10 at the event..
For the first time since 1981-82, the NC State women finished out of the winner’s circle at the ACC Championships in back-to-back years when the 2004 squad finished third. The women rebounded once again with a strong 12th-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
The 2005 women’s team finished second in the conference again, led by All-ACC performances from Jemissa Hess and Magin Kebert, but the Wolfpack returned to the winner’s circle in 2006, winning the league championship for the 21st time in 29 years. Julia Lucas won the individual championship, and Bona Jones, Brittany Tinsley and Angelina Blackmon earned all-conference. Jones was ACC Freshman of the Year. Lucas went on to finish fifth at the NCAA Championships to earn All-America honors, and Jones, by virtue of a 26th-place finish at the NCAA race, became the 10th NC State freshman to be named All-American. The Wolfpack as a team placed 19th at the NCAA Championships.
NC State’s women’s program has won 21 of the 29 ACC Championships that have been held, and has qualified for the NCAA Championships 23 times since the NCAA began recognizing a women’s national champion in cross country in 1981. The Wolfpack women have compiled 10 finishes in the national top 10, including two championships and two second-place finishes.
The NC State Men
For two decades now, Rollie Geiger has led the NC State men’s cross country team to national success that rivals that of the women’s program. In 1986, the Wolfpack won its first ACC men’s championship in 33 years and placed 12th at the 1986 NCAA Championships. The next year, the Pack men recorded their first top 10 finish at the NCAA Championships, moving up to fifth nationally.
The Pack continued to add to its trophy case by winning 12 conference championships in a span of 16 years. The Wolfpack followed up those 12 conference titles with six national top 10 finishes, including sixth place in 1997, eighth in 1998 and third in 1999.
The men’s program, which has finished first or second in the ACC 19 of the last 22 years and has won 10 of the last 12 ACC team championships, has produced 22 All-Americans. In 1980, Steve Francis was the first Wolfpack runner to receive the honor, and he was followed by Pat Piper and Bob Henes in 1987.
Henes earned All-America honors in 1987, 1989, and 1990, becoming only the second runner in ACC history to win three individual conference titles.
David Honea earned both All-ACC and All-America honors in 1991, and Tony Riley earned All-America honors in 1992 and followed that with the 1993 ACC individual championship.
In 1995, the Wolfpack men won the conference championship in historic fashion, posting what at the time was the lowest team score in conference history with an 18. NC State runners placed first, second, third, fourth, eighth, 10th and 14th. An unprecedented six Wolfpack runners, led by individual champion Pat Joyce, made all-conference. Joyce went on to earn All-America honors.
In 1996, the NC State men claimed the ACC crown for the second year in a row and the fourth time in six years. Four members of that team earned All-ACC notice, including Chan Pons, who earned All-America honors.
The Wolfpack dominated the ACC again in 1997, repeating its feat of placing six runners on the All-ACC team and winning its third team championship in a row. The Pack went on to record a sixth-place finish at the NCAA nationals, their fourth top-10 finish since 1984. Chan Pons earned All-America status for the second time in his career along with first-time honoree Brendan Rodgers.
The men continued their dominance in 1998, winning their fourth consecutive ACC championship with five members collecting All-ACC honors. NC State secured its fifth finish in the national top 10 in 15 years by taking eighth place at the NCAA Championships. Brendan Rodgers was named All-America again along with first-time All-American Chris Dugan.
The Wolfpack men had the best season in their history in 1999. They won their fifth consecutive ACC championship, missing a perfect score of 15 by one point, settling instead for a nearly unbreakable conference record with a score of 16. The men shattered another incredible record by placing seven runners on the all-conference team, then had their greatest national finish by running third at the NCAA Championships and placing four runners on the 1999 All-America team: Chan Pons (third time), Corby Pons (first), Abdul Alzindani (first) and Chris Dugan (second).
The 2000 men’s cross country squad rebounded from a tough second-place outing at the ACC Championships in Raleigh to post an impressive 11th overall finish at the NCAA Championships, the highest of any ACC squad at the meet. Freshman Andy Smith continued the long line of All-Americans under Geiger with a 45th-place finish at the NCAA meet.
In 2001, NC State finished at the top of the leaderboard and won the ACC championship for the sixth time in seven years with a low score of 26 points. The Wolfpack added five members to the All-ACC team, two of whom Chad Pearson and Chris Seaton finished 31st and 35th nationally to become All-Americans at the NCAA Championships. NC State notched its seventh top-10 finish in the program’s history, placing ninth in the 31-team field.
The Wolfpack men captured the program’s 10th conference title in 2002, and placed five individuals in the top 10 to finish with a score of 16 points. Coach Geiger received his eighth nod as the ACC’s men’s coach of the year, and went on to capture the Southeast Regional title en route to a 23rd-place finish at the NCAA Championships.
In 2003 the Wolfpack once again captured the ACC men’s championship en route to a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. Chad Pearson was named an All-American for the second time, and a total of five team members were named all-conference.
In 2004, the Wolfpack won its fourth ACC championship in as many years and its ninth in 10 years. Bobby Mack, Andy Smith, Wesley Smith and Gavin Coombs earned all-conference honors. Coombs was the conference Freshman of the Year. The Wolfpack won the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships two weeks later, and then finished 16th at the NCAA Championships.
With Coombs, Mack and Wesley Smith each sitting out in 2005, the Wolfpack dropped to third in the conference and did not qualify for the NCAA Championships as a team for the first time since 1994. John Crews emerged as a front-line runner, however, earning All-ACC and All-NCAA Regional honors, and qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
Smith, Mack and Coombs rejoined a loaded lineup in 2006, and the Wolfpack once again dominated the ACC, placing all eight runners in the top 19 at the ACC Championships and rolling to its 10th conference championship in 12 years with a score of 31. Smith, Crews, Coombs, Tibor Vegh, Stephen Furst, and Bryce Ruiz all earned all-conference accolades. The Wolfpack went on to win the NCAA Southeast Regional, then finished 16th at the NCAA Championships.
Since 1986, the NC State men have dominated the ACC and been among a handful of teams to consistenly rank among the nation’s elite. The Wolfpack men have won 10 of the last 12 ACC team championships, and 12 of the last 16. Since 1984, the Pack has produced nine individual conference champions and 73 all-conference performers. In that same span of time, NC State has nine finishes in the national top 10, and 14 in the national top 15, and has produced 22 All-Americans.
All-Americans
Abdul Alzindani 1999
Joan Benoit 1977, 78
Megan Coombs 2001
Sande Cullinane 1982
Chris Dugan 1998, 99
Steve Francis 1980
Laurie Gomez-Henes 1990, 91
Kristen Hall 1993
Renee Harbaugh 1987
Bob Henes 1987, 89, 90
David Honea 1991
Bona Jones 2006
Pat Joyce 1995
Julia Lucas 2006
Bobby Mack 2004
Christy Nichols 1996, 99
Sue Overby 1981
Chad Pearson 2001, 03
Pat Piper 1987
Chan Pons 1996, 97, 98
Corby Pons 1998
Katrina Price 1988
Kristin Price 2001, 02
Laura Rhoads 1996, 97
Tony Riley 1992
Connie Jo Robinson 1982, 83, 84
Brendan Rodgers 1997, 98
Katie Sabino 1999, 2001
Chris Seaton 2001
Julie Shea 1977, 78, 79, 80
Mary Shea 1980
Andy Smith 2000
Janet Smith 1984, 85, 87
Betty Springs 1979, 80, 81, 83
Lynne Strauss 1983
Suzie Tuffey 1985, 87, 88
All-ACC Men
Ackley, Neil 1970
Alzindani, Abdul 1996, 97, 99
Bader, Allen 2003
Bateman, Tony 1976, 77
Bowker, Dean 1999, 2000
Brooks, Michael 1995
Brookshire, Ricky 2002
Brower, Kevin 1977, 78
Brown, Steve 1986
Christian, David 2001, 2002
Coombs, Gavin 2004, 06, 07
Crews, John 2005, 06, 07
Davis, Silas 1963
Dugan, Chris 1998, 99, 2001
Dvorak, Scott 1990
Eicholtz, Jason 1990
Fincher, Ed 1959
Fitzula, Mike 1999
Francis, Steve 1979, 80
Furst, Stephen 2006, 07
Garcia, Shane 1992
Gaynor, Gavin 1985, 87
Gonzalez, Jose 1994, 95
Hayes, Gareth 1968, 69, 70
Henes, Bob 1987, 89
Herr, Andy 1986
Honea, David 1991
Howell, Robbie 1997, 98
Inscoe, Bill 1957
Joyce, Pat 1995
Kollar, Chris 2007
Little, Kelvin 1979
Lopeman, Todd 1991, 92
Lyon, Dan 1979, 80
Mack, Bobby 2004
Marlowe, Kurtis 2002
Martinez, John 2007
Michael, Jon 1977, 78
Patterson, David 1998, 2002
Pearson, Chad 2001, 2003
Piper, Pat 1984, 85
Pluchos, Chris 1998
Pons, Chan 1995, 96, 97, 99
Pons, Corby 1995, 96, 97, 99
Riley, Tony 1992, 93
Rodgers, Brendan 1996, 97, 98
Ruiz, Bryce 2006
Saft, Aaron 1999
Seaton, Chris 2001
Shea, Mike 1956
Smith, Andy 2000, 01, 03, 04
Smith, Wesley 2003, 04, 06, 07
Swann, Devin 2002, 2003
Thompson, Steve 1980, 81
Vegh, Tibor 2006
Vigilante, Jason 1994
Wallace, Ricky 1985, 86
Wentworth, Jeff 1980, 81
Wilkins, Jim 1970, 71, 72, 73
Wirgau, Joe 1995, 97
Woods, Ryan 2000
All-ACC Women
Benoit, Joan 1978
Beykirch, Amy 1997, 98, 99
Bilotta, Stacy 1984, 85, 87
Blackmon, Angelina 2006, 07
Carraher, Marianne 1987
Cook, Kelly 1992
Coombs, Megan 2001
Coscia, Jackie 1995
Cullinane, Sande 1980, 81, 83
Dean, Kim 1990, 91
Dumas, Francine 1989, 90
Faircloth, Meredith 1995, 1997
Fonner, Beth 2000, 01
Girard, Suzanne 1981
Gomez, Laurie 1988, 89, 90, 91
Goode, Kim 1992
Gray, Sarah 1997
Gunning, Renee 2003
Hall, Kristen 1993, 95, 96
Harbaugh, Renee 1986, 87
Henderson, Ann 1979
Herrman, Ami 1995
Hess, Jemissa 2005
Hollis, Heather 1992,93, 95
Hull, Lucinda 2003
Jones, Bona 2006
Kebert, Magin 2005
Knabb, Katherine 1991,92
Kraft, Beth 2000
Lauber, Josi 2002
Lucas, Julia 2003, 04, 06
Modliszewski, Jennifer 1998
Musson, Erin 1997
Nichols, Christy 1996, 99, 2000
Norton, Jennifer 1991
Ormsby, Kathy 1984, 85
Price, Katrina 1988, 89, 90, 91
Price, Kristin 2001, 2002
Rhoads, Laura 1996, 97
Robinson, Connie Jo 1982, 83, 84
Rogers, Lindsey 1998
Roth, Kris 2002, 04
Sabino, Katie 1998, 99, 2000, 01
Shea, Julie 1978, 79, 80
Shea, Mary 1979, 80
Smith, Janet 1984, 85, 87, 88
Springs, Betty 1979, 80, 81, 83
Strauss, Lynne 1983
Tinsley, Brittany 2006, 07
Tuffey, Suzie 1985, 87, 88, 89
NC State’s ACC Championship Finishes
Men
Team
Year Finish Top NC State Finisher
1953 1st No ACC Meet Held
1954 None Dave Miller (3rd)
1955 None Chris Gwynn (5th)
1956 5th Mike Shea (2nd)
1957 4th Bill Inscoe (7th)
1958 4th Maurice Barbour (12th)
1959 3rd Ed Fincher (10th)
1960 4th Not Available
1961 5th Richard Edwards (25th)
1962 8th Not Available
1963 4th Mel Woodcock (2nd)
1964 None Steve Middleton (43rd)
1965 7th Marshall Adams (33rd)
1966 6th Pete MacManus (25th)
1967 4th Pete MacManus (18th)
1968 5th Gareth Hayes (5th)
1969 5th Gareth Hayes (2nd)
1970 3rd Gareth Hayes (2nd)
1971 4th Jim Wilkins (4th)
1972 3rd Jim Wilkins (4th)
1973 4th Jim Wilkins (7th)
1974 4th Dave Senter (16th)
1975 3rd Kevin Brower (15th)
1976 5th Tom Bateman (4th)
1977 2nd Tom Bateman (5th)
1978 4th Kevin Brower (7th)
1979 3rd Steve Francis (4th)
1980 2nd Steve Francis (5th)
1981 5th Steve Thompson (8th)
1982 4th John George (14th)
1983 5th Gavin Gaynor (15th)
1984 3rd Pat Piper (7th)
1985 2nd Pat Piper (4th)
1986 1st Andy Herr (4th)
1987 2nd Bob Henes (1st)
1988 None David Honea (15th)
1989 3rd Bob Henes (1st)
1990 2nd Bob Henes (1st)
1991 1st David Honea (3rd)
1992 1st Tony Riley (3rd)
1993 2nd Tony Riley (1st)
1994 2nd Jose Gonzalez (2nd)
1995 1st Pat Joyce (1st)
1996 1st Chan Pons (2nd)
1997 1st Chan Pons (2nd)
1998 1st Brendan Rodgers (1st)
1999 1st Chan Pons (1st)
2000 2nd Ryan Woods (5th)
2001 1st Chad Pearson (2nd)
2002 1st David Patterson (1st)
2003 1st Andy Smith (1st)
2004 1st Bobby Mack (2nd)
2005 3rd John Crews (14th)
2006 1st Wes Smith (4th)
2007 2nd Chris Kollar (1st)
Women
Team
Year Finish Top NC State Finisher
1978 1st Joan Benoit (2nd)
1979 1st Julie Shea (1st)
1980 1st Julie Shea (1st)
1981 2nd Betty Springs (1st)
1982 3rd Connie Jo Robinson (8th)
1983 1st Betty Springs (1st)
1984 1st Janet Smith (1st)
1985 1st Suzie Tuffey (1st)
1986 None None
1987 1st Suzie Tuffey (2nd)
1988 1st Janet Smith (2nd)
1989 1st Suzie Tuffey (2nd)
1990 1st Laurie Gomez (2nd)
1991 1st Laurie Gomez (1st)
1992 1st Kelly Cook (4th)
1993 1st Kristen Hall (1st)
1994 None Kathy Knabb (11th)
1995 1st Kristen Hall (4th)
1996 1st Christy Nichols (2nd)
1997 1st Laura Rhoads (2nd)
1998 1st Lindsey Rogers (3rd)
1999 2nd Christy Nichols (1st)
2000 1st Christy Nichols (5th)
2001 1st Katie Sabino (4th)
2002 T-1st Kristin Price (3rd)
2003 2nd Julia Lucas (4th)
2004 3rd Julia Lucas (5th)
2005 2nd Jemissa Hess (3rd)
2006 1st Julia Lucas (1st)
2007 2nd Brittany Tinsley (5th) Team
NC State’s NCAA Championship Finishes
Men
1984 - NCAA 9th Place
1985 - NCAA 11th Place
1986 - NCAA 12th Place
1987 - NCAA 5th Place
1991 - NCAA 11th Place
1992 - NCAA 10th Place
1993 - NCAA 9th Place
1995 - NCAA 13th Place
1996 - NCAA 16th Place
1997 - NCAA 6th Place
1998 - NCAA 8th Place
1999 - NCAA 3rd Place
2000 - NCAA 11th Place
2001 - NCAA 9th Place
2002 - NCAA 23rd Place
2003 - NCAA 10th Place
2004 - NCAA 16th Place
2006 - NCAA 16th Place
2007 - NCAA 18th place
Women
1977 - AIAW 9th Place
1978 - AIAW 2nd Place
1979 - AIAW 1st Place
1980 - AIAW 1st Place
1981 - NCAA 5th Place
1982 - NCAA 7th Place
1983 - NCAA 3rd Place
1984 - NCAA 3rd Place
1985 - NCAA 3rd Place
1987 - NCAA 2nd Place
1988 - NCAA 4th Place
1989 - NCAA 14th Place
1990 - NCAA 11th Place
1991 - NCAA 8th Place
1992 - NCAA 11th Place
1993 - NCAA 9th Place
1995 - NCAA 16th Place
1996 - NCAA 13th Place
1997 - NCAA 11th Place
1998 - NCAA 19th Place
1999 - NCAA T-19th Place
2000 - NCAA 11th Place
2001 - NCAA 2nd Place
2002 - NCAA 13th Place
2003 - NCAA 6th Place
2004 - NCAA 12th Place
2005 - NCAA 14th Place
2006 - NCAA 19th Place
2007 NCAA 29th place
