What a way for Mark Steeds of the cross country team to close out what had been an outstanding season. Last Monday, at the Division I Cross Country National Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., Steeds became the first All-American in the history of the Georgia State Cross Country program with a 12th-place finish. The top 15 runners finished within one minute of each other, as Oregon’s Galen Rupp took the top spot with a 29:03.2 finishing time. Steeds finished just two seconds shy of 11th place with a time of 29:49.2.
“It was pretty impressive to watch him and it was such a good feeling to see that Georgia State jersey near the front of the field,” said head coach John Rowland.
Having reached all of his season goals –CAA title, NCAA Regional qualifier and an All-American nod–Steeds will look forward to a new goal, as he attempts to repeat his All-American feat during the track season.
“Our team respects all that he has meant to our program and now we’ll help him get ready for track season and try to help him earn All-American in that,” Rowland said.
HOOPS REGROUPS
Men’s basketball (2-4 at press time) will try to bounce back from a couple of disappointing losses with a mid-week home game against Hampton. The Panthers will then take to the road again, playing an early CAA game Saturday at UNC-Wilmington. The Panthers have been idle since falling at Troy, 68-63, before Thanksgiving. The Panthers’ four losses have been by an average of just 5.3 points, including two overtime losses already in the young season.
“The break gave us a chance to regroup,” said head coach Rod Barnes. “I think we had been pressing a little bit, so we gave them a few days off, and I think it was what we needed. We got back in the gym over the weekend and seemed to have a renewed focus, so hopefully that will show on the court.”
Joe Dukes, a transfer point guard from Wake Forest, has led the way so far, averaging 15.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
On another note, Barnes announced that junior forward Chris Echols, a junior college transfer, has left the team.
“Chris decided that he wanted to concentrate on other things in his life and we wish him the best,” Barnes said.
IN OTHER NEWS
After opening the season in fine fashion with a win at Clemson, women’s basketball dropped their next two games, a 74-56 loss at Georgia Tech and a 51-49 loss at the College of Charleston.
“We’re glad to be coming home and hope the fans will come out and see what an exciting team we’ve got this season,” said head coach Lea Henry. … Join us every Sunday afternoon (4-5 p.m.) for the Rod Barnes/Georgia State Basketball coaches show on WGKA-AM 920. The show is broadcast live from The Panthers Den restaurant in the Citizens Trust Bank building, 75 Piedmont Road, on campus.
Dave Cohen is in his 26th season as the “Voice of Georgia State Basketball and Baseball” on WRAS-FM (88.5) and works on the football radio crew at Furman University in Greenville, S.C.
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