University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
NCAA Championships
Tar Heel Duo Earn All-America Honors
November 24, 2008 | Cross Country
Nov. 24, 2008
Complete Results in PDF Format
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Senior Brie Felnagle and junior Lauren Holesh capped off a stellar cross country season Monday morning as the duo captured All-America honors in Terre Haute, Ind. Felnagle took home fourth place, the best finish of her career, with a time of 19:53.3, while Holesh clocked a 6K time of 20:35.4 for 30th overall. The two All-Americas mark just the third time in school history that a pair of Tar Heels have earned the honor the same season.
Felnagle ran with the lead pack the majority of the race and was battling with ACC foes Tas Fanning of Virginia Tech and Susan Kuijken of Florida State. The Tacoma, Wash., native slipped behind the three leaders but was able to hold off Iowa's Rachael Marchand to claim the top finish of her four-year career. The All-America honor is Felnagle's 10th of her career and third on the cross country circuit.
Holesh capped off a breakout season Monday as she ran her best 6K time of the season when she clocked a 20:35.4 to earn her first All-America honor of her career. A year after finishing 210th at the NCAA Championships the Raleigh, N.C., native has turned into an elite runner and gave Carolina a pair of All-Americas for the first time since 2003.
"Both ran just great races today," head coach Michael Whittlesey said. "Brie was with the lead group the entire race and turned in her best performance in Terre Haute and Lauren stayed in her position throughout the race."
The 2003 season saw Erin Donohue (31st), Shalane Flanagan (1st) and Carol Henry (7th) all earn All-America honors for the Tar Heels. Felnagle and Holesh followed in the footsteps of the 2003 trio and the 1982 pair of Joan Nesbitt (15th) and Holly Murray (30th) in both being named All-America.
Texas Tech's Sally Kipyego claimed the individual title with a 19:28.1, while Washington claimed the women's title.
