Oslund and Lady Cavs capture 5th straight title

ALBANY – The Darton State College Cross Country program swept the NJCAA Region 17 for the fifth year in a row, today.

FiveDarton student-athletes earned All-Region honors, sophomore Elena Oslund became the Region 17 women's champion, and Darton head cross country coach Bruce Skiles became men's and women's cross country coach of the year.

Oslund led the Lady Cavaliers to a perfect score. She finished the women's 5K in a blazing 19:51. Sophomore Alexis Skiles finished second (20:50), followed by Amber Braswell (3^rd, 21:31), Jaishell Thomas (4^th, 21:40) and Victoria Parra (7^th,21:48).

Runners from Georgia Military College and Gordon College finished 5^th and 6^th, but their places did not count in team scores as both colleges had incomplete teams.

Darton finished with 15 points. South Georgia College finished second with 46 points and North Georgia Technical College took third with 78 points.

"We want to build a dynasty," said Skiles, who has swept conference titles every season since taking over the program in 2010. "I'm pleased. There were a couple who didn't run well, but it's hard to get all of them to run well in one race."

"That's why you need depth," he continued. "That's what we got. That's what wins."

The Cavaliers will travel next to Fort Dodge, Iowa, for the NJCAA D-1 Cross Country National Championship at Lakeside Golf Course on Nov. 9.

All Region 17 1^st team, women:               

All Region 17 2^nd team, women:

Region 17 Women's Coach of the Year:

Bruce Skiles

Region 17 Champion, women:

Elena Oslund, Darton State College