Ruck’s All-ACC Performance Guides Cross Country at ACC Championships

Oct. 31, 2009

Women’s Results

CARY, NC – Clemson sophomore Kim Ruck placed ninth at the ACC Championships on Saturday to lead the cross country teams’ efforts at WakeMed Soccer Park. It was the second straight season the women’s program produced an All-ACC runner. Jenna Baker, who did not compete Saturday, was All-ACC in 2008.

The women’s team was ninth in the final standings. Florida State (37) ran away with the women’s championship, finishing ahead of Duke (71) and Virginia (84).

Ruck continued her emergence as one of the top distance runners in the conference. After walking on to the team last fall, she was 20th in her first appearance at the ACC Championships. This time around, Ruck put together an impressive personal best of 20:26.1 over the 6000m course. Her previous best was 21:27.6 at the 2008 meet in Chapel Hill.

Ruck’s All-ACC performance gave the women’s team an all-conference performer for the second straight year. It marked the first time since 1997-98 the women’s team had back-to-back All-ACC harriers.

A first-year freshman, Lauren Reen, was Clemson’s No. 2 performer on the women’s side. She had a time of 21:43.6 and was 37th in the individual standings. Stephanie Buffo was 58th Saturday, scoring for the second straight year at ACCs. The final two scorers Saturday for the women were Alyssa Kulik (72nd – 22:41.8) and Sarah Turman (79th – 23:00.4).

The men’s team was 11th Saturday. The Tigers were also without one of their senior leaders in Will Noble, who was 21st at last year’s ACC meet. Chris Slate was the team’s top finisher in 38th place. He had a time of 24:51.3 and improved by 29 positions over his 2008 league finish.

Jonathan Sunde was 56th with a time of 25:19.6. The team’s final three scorers were Tyler Morey (77th – 25:49.2), Blake Kennedy (84th – 26:07.3), and Chad Holt (92nd – 26:23.3).

The teams return to action on Nov. 14 for the NCAA Southeast Regionals in Louisville, KY.