The Red and Black

Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: LESLEY ONSTOTT The men's and women's cross country teams competed in their only home race against Georgia Tech on Thursday. [Click to enlarge]

About 300 spectators gathered at dusk Thursday under blue skies with high, fluffy clouds to cheer on the Georgia cross country team as it faced off with Georgia Tech at the intramural fields.

With light from the setting sun casting long shadows and cool temperatures, a painter could have hardly set the scene better.

The former and current runners managed to outshine even the beautiful conditions as Ryley Miller won the men's race, measuring 6200-meters.

Even before crossing the finish line well ahead of the group, Miller ­- who graduated last year - stood out by running in a green Senegal jersey.

Brian Potts finished second among the men's runners, but first among the current collegiate athletes.

Not surprisingly, returning senior All-American Natalie Picchetti won the 3200-meter women's race. Following Picchetti's own prediction that some young runners would stand out this season, freshman Kristie Krueger finished second among the Georgia women.

Georgia coaches Jeff Pigg and Wayne Norton were excited about how the teams opened the 2008 campaign

"Yeah, I'm really happy with how everyone ran today," Pigg said.

Tougher challenges lie ahead, but with Georgia runners winning in both men's and women's cross country events against rivals Georgia Tech, there is reason to get excited about cross country in Athens.

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