11/12/05–
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TONNY OKELLO WINS THE NCAA SOUTH REGIONAL
CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
CONTACT:
Dwayne Gatlin
NCAA
South Regional Results
GAINESVILLE,
Fla. - Tonny Okello ran away with the 2005 NCAA South Regional,
Saturday, running 29:31.7 for the 10K distance. His time is the
the fifth fastest 10K in school history. Okello defeated two-time
reigning ACC champion Andrew Lemoncello(Florida State) and reigning
SEC runner-up Augustus Maiyo(Alabama) by about 60 meters.
Okello was third
at the South Regional in 2004 on his way to becoming South Alabama's
third cross country All-American. He will advance the NCAA Championships
for the second year in a row becoming the first Jaguar to qualify
for back-to-back national championships.
"I narrowly missed it last year, but I learned from my mistake,"
Okello said, "I didn't want to wait to make my move, so I went
for it with about 1.2 miles left."
Four time Sun Belt Conference Runner of the Week Vincent Rono, will
also advance to the championships in Terre Haute, Ind. on Nov. 21.
Previously undefeated against opponents from the South Region, Rono,
leading the race, caught a stitch in his side at about the four
mile mark, but maintained his composure to finish fifth overall
in a time 30:07.9. South Alabama will field two athletes at the
NCAA Championships for the first time ever.
Harry Larubi
stellar cross country season ended at the South Regional with a
30th place finish. Larubi, who finished 23rd in 2004, ran 31:43.4
on Saturday. Despite improving his times at the 5K, 8K, and 10K
distances by more than a minute each this season, Larubi will not
advance to the national finals.
"I am pleased that
we were able to do something no one has ever done in our history,"
head coach Lee Evans commented, "It's good to give another
first to the school and it says that the program is continuing to
move in the right direction."
The NCAA Cross
Country Championships will be held on November 21 in Terre Haute,
Ind. Okello will look to become South Alabama first two-time cross
country All-American. He and Rono can also add to Jaguar history
by becoming the first duo to earn All-American honors.
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