The Emory University women's cross country team enjoyed another banner season that saw the squad turn in a number of noteworthy accomplishments. Guided by the able hand of Head Coach John Curtin, the Eagles attained the following:
** A 14th-place finish at the NCAA Division III National Championships.
** A 1st-place showing at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional Championships, the team's 15th championship in the past 16 seasons.
** A No. 18 national ranking by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
** A No. 3 finish at the UAA Championships, the 16th straight year the Eagles had finished among the top three.
** Three runners who claimed All-University Association honors
** Six runners who garnered All-Region honors
** A 1st-place finish out of 20 teams at the Great American Cross Country Festival.
Pacing the team through the year was the trio of senior Amy DiBianca, junior Lauren Shores and sophomore Melissa Jones. All three were consistent and outstanding performers all season and finished among Emory's top three runners in every meet.
Amy DiBianca
DiBianca paced the Eagles in three competitions including a first-place overall showing out of 177 contestants at the South/Southeast Regional. Her performance spearheaded a 1-4-6-11-16 team finish and enabled her to claim All-Region honors for the fourth straight year. For her effort, Amy was selected as the South/Southeast Women's Athlete of the Year. DiBianca came in first among Emory runners and second overall out of 149 entrants at the Great American Cross Country Festival and helped the Eagles to a decisive first-place finish out of 20 teams. She played a key role in Emory's second-place effort (17 teams) at the competitive Alabama Crimson Classic, finishing No. 2 among Emory runners and 14th out of 131 entrants with a 5K time of 19:14.08. Finally, her seventh-place finish at the University Athletic Association Championships paced the team with her 6K time of 22:41.7 representing the 12th-best time in school history. DiBianca closed out her career as the school's most successful runner in terms of victories with a career record of 4,192-456.
Lauren Shores
Shores got off to a blazing start and was the team's top runner in the first two meets of the year, finishing fourth overall, at both the Sewanee Invitational (159 runners) and the Alabama Crismon Classic (131 runners). Her 5K time of 18:29 at the Alabama Crimson Classic was the best effort by an Emory runner for that distance during the season and tied for 21st on the school's all-time list. After ranking as the team's No. 2 runner at the Great American Cross Country Festival (4th overall out of 149 contestants), Shores paced the team and finished 10th overall in a field of 162 at the always competitive University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Invitational. At the conference championship, Shores' ninth-place finish enabled her to claim Second Team All-UAA recognition. Shores would go on and earn All-Region honors after finishing sixth overall at the South/Southeast Regional Championship.
Melissa Jones
Jones came on strong during the second half of the season and brought home All-America honors following her 24th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, the first Emory runner to earn that distinction since Angela Davie in 2002. Jones, who ranked among the top three Emory harriers in the first five meets of the year, landed All-Region honors for the second straight season after her fourth-place showing (No. 2 Emory runner) at the South/Southeast Regional Championships where she finished with a 6K time of 23:10.7. She came away with a team-high 1,043 wins during the season. Her best 5K time of the year was a 19:19.40 at the Alabama Crimson Classic that placed her third among Emory runners and 16th out of 131 competitors. She earned Second Team All-UAA acclaim after her 10th-place finish at the conference meet.
Julia Morton
Morton was a model of consistency as she ranked among the Emory's top five runners in five of the six competitions she saw action in. She was the Eagles' No. 4 runner and 16th out of 159 in the season opener at the Sewanee Invitational. She turned in a solid effort at the UW-Oshkosh Invitational where she helped EU to a third-place finish (11 teams) with a 6K season-best time of 23:14.7, good for 29th place out of 162 runners. She brought home All-Region kudos following her 16th-place finish out of a field of 177 (24:20.2).
Megan Shaughnessy
As a sophomore, Shaughnessy emerged as a consistent contributor and enjoyed a strong second half of the seasons. She finished among the team's top five runners in each of the last four 6K races of the year. She captured All-Region honors after ranking fourth among the Eagles' pack and 11th out of 177 runners at the South/Southeast Region Championships with a 6k time of 23:51. At the Georgia State Invitational, Megan came in 17th out of 105 runners with a 5K time of 20:50.9. At the UW-Oshkosh Invitational, she came in 30th out of 162 harriers with a 6K time of 23:15.
Sara Raiser
Raiser was named the UAA Rookie of the Year after pacing all frosh at the conference meet with a 6K time of 23:49 that placed her 18th overall out of 74 runners. She had a good showing at the UW-Oshkosh Invitational, checking in 46th out of 162 with a season-best 6K effort of 23:35. Sara competed in a total of six meets during the season. Her best 5K mark was a 20:16.7, good for 37th place out of 131 entries, at the Alabama Crimson Classic.
Rebecca Flink
A talented first-year performer, Flink competed in seven meets during the fall and laid the groundwork for a promising future. She was the No. 5 Emory finisher and 17th out of 149 at the Great American Cross Country Festival. Her best 5K time was a 19:53, good for 26th position out of 131 runners at the Alabama Crimson Classic. She was an All-Region honoree after her 32nd place showing (25:02) out of 177 contestants at the NCAA South/Southeast Regional Championships. Her best 6K time came at the UW-Oshkosh Invitational where she crossed the line in 24:16.8
All-American (United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association)
Melissa Jones (one team) Zionsville, IN
All-South/Southeast /Region
Amy DiBianca Winston-Salem, NC
Melissa Jones Zionsville, IN
Lauren Shores Manchester, MO
Megan Shaughnessy San Antonio, TX
Julia Morton Glen Allen, CA
Rebbeca Flink Loudonville, NY
South/Southeast Region Women's Athlete of the Year
Amy DiBianca Winston-Salem, NC
South/Southeast Region Coach of the Year
John Curtin
All-University Athletic Association
Amy DiBianca First Team Winston-Salem, NC
Melissa Jones Second Team Zionsville, IN
Lauren Shores Second Team Manchester, MO
All-UAA Rookie of the Year
Sara Raiser Lilburn, GA
United States Track & Field And Cross Country Coaches Association Academic All-American
Amy DiBianca
Jennifer Cronin
Julia Morton