CARLISLE, Pa.--Senior captain Kelly Buriak and sophomore Faraz Shoai posted the best-ever times and places by Hood College runners at the NCAA Division III Mid-East Regional Cross Country Championships last Saturday at Carlisle High School.

Buriak finished 69th out of 293 competitors by running the 6,000-meter course in 24:45.6 as the Hood women placed 29th out of 42 teams.

Shoai covered the 8,000-meter course in 29:33.9 to place 162nd out of 279 runners as the Blazer men finished 37th out of 40 squads.

Rounding out the scoring for the women were freshman Danielle Sgro (105th), senior Rachel Collmus (158th), freshman Kyleigh Reynolds (176th) and junior Rachel Pectol (207th).

Junior Julia Blickenstaff and sophomore April Penn also competed for Hood.

"The time is coming down in big chunks and we are clawing our way up the regional standings a little each year," said head coach Brent Ayer. "This year our top five women averaged 26:22. Two years ago on the same course, we were at 28:42. We're getting there. We just need to be patient and keep building."

Other men's scorers were sophomore captain Steve Delaney (214th), senior captain Robert Mitchell (243rd), freshman Kevin Worley (244th) and freshman Faizal Johnson (253rd).

Senior Craig Callender and freshman Will Emory also competed for the Blazers, who were without the services of freshman Bryan Lentz, their number two runner.

The event marked the final appearance of four Hood College athletes who helped found the running program three years ago--Buriak, Callender, Collmus and Mitchell. Three-year runner Danielle Conley will also graduate this spring.

"Unless you were around two and a half years ago, it is hard to imagine how fragile this was or how far we have come," said Ayer. "I owe these runners a debt of gratitude."