CHARLOTTE, N.C.- In what turned out to be a perfect afternoon, the Queens University of Charlotte men's cross country turned in a perfect score of 15 to win the 2009 Conference Carolinas Cross Country Championship hosted by Queens at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte, N.C.

The title is the second for the Royals under Head Coach Scott Simmons and second title in three years for the Royals.

Oscar Ogwaro (Los Angeles, Calif., Woodrow Wilson) led the field of 82 with a time of 24:18 on the 8,000-meter course. The 4:54 paced time matches the current best run at a Conference Carolinas Champions, a record set by former Queens runner Daniel Kanyaruhuru in 2007. 

The next three runners will also etch their names in the Conference Carolinas Championship record books, taking the next top spots. Futsum Mebrahtu (Phoenix, Ariz., North) ran the entire race with Ogwaro came in just three seconds behind him at 24:21. Simon Stuetzel (Meinborn, Germany) was the median runner for the Royals in third place with a run of 25:03. Nelson Mwangi (Kenya, Nairobi School) registered a time of 25:19 and the last scoring member for Queens was Matthew Rowell (Show Low, Ariz. , Blue Ridge ) with a time of 25:39. Alex Schilling (Dresden, Germany, Sportgymnasium ) kept the Queens pattern alive by crossing the line in sixth place, 25:47.

Anderson's Alex Jordan broke the Queens streak in seventh place by running the 8,000-meter run in a time of 25:57. Rounding out the top 10 racers were Adam Groblewski from Erskine (25:29), Justus Kirwa of Limestone (26:10), and Brian Yates (Newton, N.C., Fred T. Ford) of Queens (26:20).

Following the race Shilling was named the Freshman of the Year, Ogwaro the Runner of the year and Simmons took home the Coach of the Year award.

The top five finishers are named All-Conference First Team, the next five are All-Conference Second Team and the 11-15 finishers are All-Conference Third Team.

Up next for many if not all of the team is the 2009 Southeast Regional Championship on November 7 at Wingate University.

2009 Conference Carolinas Cross Country Results
1. Queens                1    2    3    4    5   (6) (10) =    15
         Oscar Ogwaro, Futsum Mebrahtu, Simon Stuetzel, Nelson Mwangi, Matt Rowell, Alex Schilling, Brian Yates
  2. Lees-Mcrae          11   15   16   17   20  (28) (29) =    79
         Sondre Thorbergsen, Nate Trimble, Craig Simpkins, Michael Davis, Chris Holstein, Luke Anton, Connor Gray
  3. Anderson            7   21   22   30   34  (53)      =   114
         Alex Jordan, Alex Pena, Nigel Reynolds, Jonathan Stephens, Matt Shaffer, Ryne Welch
  4. Mount Olive         13   19   25   26   33  (38) (45) =   116
         James Maloney, Kevin Ryan, Paul Hoffman, Ronnie Sturgill, Chris Menjares, Rashaad Nelson, Chris Etienne
  5. Erskine               8   12   23   32   49            =   124
         Adam Groblewski, Chas Culberson, Joseph Sell, Matt Diaz, Robert McCarthy
  6. St. Andrews          14   24   37   40   42  (54)      =   157
         Doug Holt, James Walls, Jon Lecker, Tommy Wilson, James Lloyd, Brad McKee
  7. Pfieffer          27   35   36   41   44  (50) (63) =   183
         Matt Tyndall, Will Oliver, Daniel Barnhardt, Josh Roberts, Zack Allen, Zach Gray, Grady Gaston
  8. Limestone             9   43   48   55   56  (58) (60) =   211
         Justus Kirwa, Kevin Eagle, Tres Valentino, Garrett McCraw, Ken Bodamer, Greg Boston, Brian Makupson
  9. Belmont Abbey       18   39   46   51   62  (66) (70) =   216
         Joseph Lanser, Greg Shore, Martin Aucoin, Michael Laheta, Thomas Hoxie,  Charles Dingee, Ian Moye
 10. Barton              31   52   57   64   65  (69)      =   269
         Sammy Serem, Chris Mizelle, Chris Free, Phillip Averre, Chris Lassiter, Hunter Newcombe
 11. Coker                 47   59   61   67   68            =   302
         Britian Tomlinson, Quinn Wenger, Austin McJunkins, Thad Sulek, Andrew Caputa