HOOVER, Ala. – The University of West Alabama women’s cross country team posted a program-best fifth place finish at the 2009 Gulf South Conference Cross Country Championship on Saturday at Veterans Park.  The UWA men finished seventh in the men’s championship.

Sophomore Carolyn Mancuso earned First Team All-GSC honors, finishing eighth with a time of 19 minutes, 45.88 seconds in the 5K.  Freshman Polina Babkina turned in a time of 20:55.47 to finish 28^th.  Jessica Gonzalez and Kelli Hartley crossed the line side-by-side with Gonzalez placing 39th (21:32.54) and Hartley 40th (21:34.63).

Defending 2008 champion Harding had a repeat performance, claiming both men’s and women’s crowns.  On the women’s side, the Red and White finished behind West Florida, Arkansas Tech and West Georgia.

On the men’s side, UWA was paced by Jonathan Sellers, who turned in mark of 27:03 and claimed Second Team All-GSC honors with a 16^th-place finish.  It marks the second-straight year Sellers has picked up GSC accolades.  Austin Enriquez finished 21^st in the individual standings followed by Camden Holmes (47^th) and Spencer Gray (51^st).

Both squads will compete in the NCAA South Region on Saturday, Nov. 7, in Tampa, Fla.