November 07, 2009

LaGrange, GA-Two Salem College cross country runners were selected to the Great South Athletic All-Conference teams this afternoon. Julie Piernikowski, a junior from Potomac, MD, and Stephanie Mendez, a first year from Atlanta, GA, were both selected to the team. Mendez was also selected to the GSAC All-First Year team. 

The two runners both played a major part in Salem finishing in second place at the GSAC XC Championships. Piernikowski finished in third overall at the meet, and Mendez finished in eighth place. Piernikowski was the number one runner for Salem in all of their meets this season. Mendez started out as Salem's number three runner but has finished in the top two spot for Salem the past two meets. 

Mendez and Piernikowski are the first two cross country runners in Salem history to earn GSAC end of the year honors. 

Salem also had five student-athletes placed on the GSAC Academic All-Conference Team for cross country. Piernikowski was joined by Julie Ann Bigsby (Salisbury, NC), Kaycee Ingram (Mt. Ulla, NC), Lauren Meek (Draper, VA) and Catherine Mixon (Simpsonville, NC) on the team. A student-athlete must have a 3.25 cumulative GPA, and be at least a sophomore to be placed on the academic all-conference team.