McDougal and Newby Sweep Big South Cross Country Runner of the Week Awards

Liberty cross country runners Josh McDougal (Peru, N.Y.) and Piper Newby (Hayden Lake, Idaho) have been named the Big South Conference Choice Hotels Men's and Women's Cross Country Runners of the Week.

 

McDougal, a junior who has captured six All-American honors in his career at Liberty, got his 2006 season off to a good start at Saturday's Lou Onesty Invitational, hosted by Virginia.  He set an 8K course record with a time of 24:14, marking the 10^th time he has set a cross country course record while competing for the Flames.  McDougal's efforts helped Liberty win the team title in a 12-team competition.

 

Newby, also a junior, burst onto the scene at the Lou Onesty Invitational.  Her time of 18:38 eclipsed her previous 5K personal best by nearly a minute.  That effort, which earned her an 11^th-place finish, made Newby the first Liberty woman to cross the line and led the Lady Flames to fourth place in the final team standings.

 

McDougal, Newby and the rest of the Liberty men's and women's cross country runners will return to action on Sept. 23 at the Roy Griak Invitational in St. Paul, Minn.