FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9-30-99

AASU's NIKKI GARLAND NAMED CROSS COUNTRY REGION WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE MONTH

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- AASU junior women's cross country student-athlete Nikki Garland, who captured three individual cross country titles in her first three meets of 1999, has been named the Southeast Region Women's Cross Country Athlete-of-the-Month by the NCAA Division II Cross Country Coaches' Association.

Garland's quick start has helped the AASU women's cross country squad to a No. 3 regional ranking. She captured individual titles at the Georgia Southern Opener on Sept. 3, Winthrop Invitational on Sept. 18 and set a course record in capturing the PBAC Pre-Conference Meet on Sept. 11. In her only other race of the month, at the Nike/USCS Invitational on Sept. 25, she finished second.

“She's running times that are about a minute faster from last year,” AASU head coach Greg Wimer said of Garland, who also garnered NCAA Division II Track & Field All-America honors in the 800 meters in 1999. “Her conditioning over the summer has allowed her to make such a dramatic improvement, and I feel she has a chance to win the individual PBAC title this season and also make it back to nationals.”

Garland qualified for the 1997 NCAA Division II National Championships in Kenosha, Wisc., and finished 86^th out of 132 runners as a freshman.

The Pirates cross country teams are in action this Saturday, October 2, at the Disney Cross Country Classic at the Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.

- Pirates -