Charlotte's Nick Sunseri Lands Spot On Team Canada's Junior Cross Country Team

Charlotte true freshman Nick Sunseri earned a spot on Team Canada’s Junior Cross Country Team on Saturday morning, placing fourth overall at the Canadian Junior National Cross Country Trials at Sunnybrook Park.

Sunseri posted a time of 25:20 on the 8k course, earning one of sixth berths to the elite World Cross Country Championship in France. In all, 172 athletes competed for six spots on the Canadian Team.

Sunseri, who graduated from Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, has dual citizenship and lived in Canada prior to moving to the Raleigh area. He will compete in the IAAF World Cross Country Meet on March 19-20, 2005, in St. Etienne - St. Galmier, France.

"This is a great opportunity for Nick, as he will gain invaluable experience competing against the very best in the world," said head cross country coach Brad Herbster. "This is a rare opportunity in life.

"Nick got out well and ran a very smart race. We are proud of him and his performance here in Toronto" Herbster continued. "Nick has really worked hard and come a long way from the start of the season. He understands the importance of a strong team, and that is something we will continue to build here at Charlotte."

Nick is the first athlete in Charlotte history to earn a spot on the startling line of the IAAF world cross country meet. The Men’s Junior race is for athletes around the world age 19 and under. Last year at the World Meet in Brussels, 118 athletes and 18 teams competed.

In his first season as a 49er, Sunseri had a successful cross country season this fall, earning All-Conference USA honors at the league’s championship event. Nick also clocked the fastest time in a 10k race for a freshman in school history, placing 36th overall at the NCAA Southeast Regional Meet in a time of 31:21.