Tampa’s Forrester and Slaven Grab Top Women’s Cross Country Honors

ORLANDO, Fla. - Six student-athletes were named to the 2008 All-Sunshine State Conference Women's Cross Country Team, announced Wednesday by Commissioner Michael J. Marcil. Tampa's Jessica Forrester was named Runner of the Year, while Spartan coach Jarrett Slaven was selected Coach of the Year. Florida Tech's Nicole Clarke was chosen Freshman of the Year.

Voting for the All-SSC team was conducted among cross country coaches and sports information directors at the six conference institutions that sponsor cross country.

Joining Forrester and Clarke on the team were Tampa's Alysha Duffy and Heather Nicolosi, Florida Southern's Carolyne Kwambai, and Nova Southeastern's Krystal Porter.

Forrester wins Runner of the Year honors after a stellar season in which she posted four top-five finishes in five races. The junior posted two individual victories, placing atop the leader board at the SSC Championship and the UT Early Bird Classic. Additionally, Forrester placed third at the Florida State Invitational and fourth at the Florida/Mountain Dew Invitational. A native of Brandon, Fla., Forrester's best time of the season was 17:57 at the UF/Mountain Dew Invitational.

Slaven claims Coach of the Year honors after leading the Spartans to their second straight SSC championship and their sixth in seven years. In addition to its victory in the conference championship, Tampa also posted a team victory at the UT Early Bird Classic. The Spartans placed second at the Florida State Invitational, third at the UF/Mountain Dew Invitational, and fourth at the Disney Classic. Slaven's Coach of the Year recognition is his seventh such honor. He also won the award last season.

Clarke garners Freshman of the Year distinction after an impressive debut season at Florida Tech. A native of Abingdon, Md., Clarke posted four top-10 finishes, including a pair of top-5 performances. She notched a second-place finish at the Embry-Riddle/Asics Invitational and was third at the Florida Tech Invitational. Additionally, Clarke placed eighth at the UT Early Bird Classic and ninth at the SSC Championships. Her best time of the year came in an enormous field of runners at the Disney Classic, where she crossed the line with a time of 18:48.

2008 ALL-SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY TEAM
Nicole Clarke, Florida Tech, Freshman
Alysha Duffy, Tampa, Junior
Jessica Forrester, Tampa, Junior
Carolyne Kwambai, Florida Southern, Junior
Heather Nicolosi, Tampa, Sophomore
Krystal Porter, Nova Southeastern, Junior
Runner of the Year - Jessica Forrester, Tampa
Coach of the Year - Jarrett Slaven, Tampa
Freshman of the Year - Nicole Clarke, Florida Tech