Cooper and Trovato return from National!

November 17, 2007

Men's 10k Results
Women's 6k Results

JOPLIN, Mo.—Juniors Mitch Cooper and Alyson Trovato competed in the 2007 NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships at the Missouri Southern Cross Country Course hosted by Missouri Southern State University on Saturday morning.

“The National Championship experience is incredible and I was thrilled to share this special time and accomplishment with Aly and Mitch,” said sixth year head coach Gary Aycock. “Their hard work and commitment was rewarded by an opportunity that few will ever experience.”

Cooper, running in his third straight National Championship for the Knights, finished the demanding 10k race in 33:01. The Virginia Beach, Va. Native finished 105th overall out of 187 runners by averaging five minute and 19 second miles. Saturday’s result was the second best result for Cooper in three attempts in the Nationals. Cooper will try and become the first ever St. Andrews harrier and first Conference Carolinas runner in recent history to compete in the National Championship in four consecutive years. The 2008 Finals will be at the Cooper’s Lake Campground in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania.

Trovato becomes the first Lady Knight to ever run in the National Championship. Trovato made the best of her first trip by posting a personal record (PR) in a 6k race. Trovato improved on her regional time by three second with a blazing speed of 23:53. The Cedar Park, Texas native crossed the finish line in 146th place out of 189 entrants by posting mile splits of six minutes and 25 seconds.

“Both Aly and Mitch ran very well considering the fact that they were two weeks past their training peak,” said Aycock. “Our goal was to focus on the regional meet in hopes of qualifying for the National Championships. They both met their season goal, so we just looked at Nationals as icing on the cake!”