Trojans' Maloney, Moore record top times in cross country meet

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 29, 2009 11:23 PM

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MOC Sports Information

MOUNT OLIVE -- Kerry "Bear" Maloney and Melissa Moore emerged the top male and female runners, respectively, during Mount Olive's season-opening, cross country triumph over in-state rival Barton College.

One of 23 competitors, Maloney covered the 5K course in 16 minutes, 27 seconds. Teammate Paul Hoffman, a Keystone (Pa.) College transfer along with Maloney, ended up second in 16:48.

Mount Olive won the meet 15-46.

"It feels good to get the season off to this kind of a start," said Maloney, a sophomore from Scranton, Pa. "It helped a lot having people cheering us on. It was a good crowd."

The Trojans' Kevin Ryan finished third in 17:23 -- four seconds ahead of teammate Ronnie Sturgill. Reshaad Nelson completed MOC's perfect outing by crossing the finish line in 17:38.

The individual times will not count toward the Conference Carolinas rankings since the official distance for a men's race is 8K.

On the women's side, Moore defeated her nearest competitor, Barton's Alexa Tovella, by 45 seconds after crossing the line in 21:24. North Duplin graduate Rocio Alvarado claimed third-place honors in 23:10, followed by Rocky Mount native Nikolette Lucas in 23:26.

Caitlyn Pie and Megan Jones rounded out the Trojans' runners with eighth- and ninth-place efforts.

MOC edged the Dogs 25-30.

"It was nice having people cheering us on as we ran," said Moore, a junior from Willard. "One team (women's soccer) even stopped practice to root us on. It makes you work harder."

The Trojans are scheduled to host the MOC Men's and Women's Invitational on Oct. 9. The field is expected to include several Conference Carolinas teams.

MOC returns to action Sept. 12 at the Wingate University Invitational.