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Brenau University

Cross Country Outlook 2012

August 17, 2012
The Brenau University Cross Country Team enters the 2012-2013 season having sent their first runner to the NAIA Nationals in Washington State last season.


The Cross Country Team returns five veteran runners. Senior Ashley Tolland (Cumming, GA) and junior Ana Lopera (Gainesville, GA) were both top five finishers for the team last year. Sophomore Brittany Aikens returns to defend her position as number 1 on the team and the only Brenau runner ever to go to Nationals. Sarah Saenz, sophomore, returns with lots of miles under her feet from running the Boston Marathon. Anahi Ruiz, sophomore, will be working hard to be one of the top five runners for Brenau.

Golden Tigers welcome nine newcomers, Alyssa Sale (Cumming, GA), Hanna Hill (Buford, GA), Tyana Luna (Lawrenceville, GA), Ganiyat Bakare (Lawrenceville, GA), Amber Curney (Stone Mtn., GA), Marianne Sapra (Alpharetta, GA), Hunter Creswell (Senoraville, GA), Lyn See Choo (Malaysia), and Jasmine Ray (Appling, GA). Each new student-athlete will bring her own strengths to add to the team.

Alyssa Sale ran for South Forsyth High School and excelled there in both cross country and track. Her personal best 5K cross country time was 20:14, and her best 1600m track time was 5:25. Sale also has leadership experience from serving as captain of both the cross country and track teams during her senior year.

Hanna Hill is transferring from Chattahoochee Technical College, where she set a school record of 25:57 in the 6000m. Tyana Luna ran for Berkmar High School, where she ran a personal best time of 21:37 in the cross country 5K. Jasmine Ray from Grovetown High School ran a 22:27 in the cross country 5K. The other newcomers have demonstrated potential in other sports, such as track and field and tennis, and all are welcome additions to the team.

With a healthy mix of veteran runners and promising rookies, the Brenau University Cross Country Team is ready for the new season. The team sent its first runner to NAIA Nationals last year, and the future is promising. The team's goals for this season include placing in the top five in the conference as a team and having three individuals participate in NAIA Nationals.